Deliver Us from Evil: An Interpretation of American Prohibition (Norton Essays in American History)

Rating:
Summary: A very thorough history of Prohibition
Review: Clark analyzes and critiques Prohibition not as a historical moment, but as a movement, originating in the 16th century. This book is very well researched and a thorough bibliography is included. An interesting aspect that is brought to light is the rural vs. urban issue of 18th and 19th century America. Overall, this text is a very good introduction to the politics of the prohibition movement.

Rating:
Summary: Digs Deep into Cause and Effect
Review: Clark does an incredibly competent job of explaining the feelings of both urban and rural Americans over the last three centuries. He exposes the political depth that was the Prohibition movement. Being a "wet" or a "dry" reminded me of the current struggle between "pro-choice" and "pro-life" factions. The book also does well on introducing the major personalities of the movement. A great first read for anyone interested in Prohibition.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and balanced
Review: This book, first published in 1976, is not exactly history--there are no footnotes--and is heavy on sociology, but is quite interesting and balanced. The author has good things to say for Prohibition, and pooh-poohs the notion that Prohibition increased drinking--it clearly did not--or that crime increased because of it. Obviously, however, Prohibition decreased resopect for law. The author points out the same thing can be said for drug laws--and there is merit in what he says. Since I so strongly believe in illegalization of harmful drugs I presume that if I had been an adult in 1915 I might have been for Prohibition!