Martelle delves into overlooked figures and events from history, unearthing the darker aspects of human nature and complex historical junctures. Drawing on his background as a journalist, he brings sharp analysis and a compelling narrative style to his work. His books invite readers to contemplate forgotten chapters of the past and their resonance with the present day.
Union Cavalryman Boston Corbett became a national celebrity after killing John Wilkes Booth, but as details of his odd personality became known, he also became the object of derision. Over time, he was largely forgotten to history, a minor character in the final act of Booth's tumultuous life. And yet Corbett led a fascinating life of his own, a tragic saga that weaved through the monumental events of nineteenth-century America.
Explores the tale of political corruption and repression and immigrants' struggles against dominant social codes of race, ethnicity, and class.
"Detroit: A Biography takes a long, unflinching look at the evolution of one of America's great cities, and one of the nation's greatest urban failures. It tells how the city grew to become the heart of American industry and how its utter collapse--from 1.8 million residents in 1950 to 714,000 only six decades later--resulted from a confluence of public policies, private industry decisions, and deep, thick seams of racism. And it raises the question: when we look at modern-day Detroit, are we looking at the ghost of America's industrial past or its future?"--Publisher
"William Walker's Wars details the little-remembered history of the American man who, with the help of a privately assembled army, installed himself as president of Nicaragua in 1856"--