October 8, 1871, was hot and breezy in Chicago. The long summer had been rainless, with many small fires in this city where even the sidewalks were made of wood. But no one was prepared for the devastation which was to engulf Chicago that night. From the evening of October 8 to the early morning of October 10, the most disastrous fire in the nation's history raged through the city. When it was over, an area one mile wide and five miles long lay in ashes, and almost a hundred thousand were homeless. Elegant stores and hotels, banks, newspapers, public buildings, and offices were swept away. Outstanding businessmen—Cyrus McCormick, Joseph Medill, Marshall Field—and ordinary citizens shared in the terrifying, heroic, and sometimes comical adventures of those thirty hours. And when it was over, they joined forces to rebuild the city.

Mary Kay Phelan tells the story of the great fire with breathless urgency, setting the scene of the bustling, aggressive city and crowding it with a fascinating cast. Meticulous research and a sure sense of drama are combined in this exciting book.

From the dust jacket