The Damndest Radical

The Damndest Radical chronicles the life of Ben Reitman, an early 20th century anarchist, physician, and social activist who became known as "King of the Hobos." The biography follows his journey from Chicago's streets to his role as Emma Goldman's manager and lover. Roger Bruns documents Reitman's work treating sexually transmitted diseases among society's outcasts, his advocacy for birth control, and his connections to radical movements of the Progressive Era. His relationships with anarchists, hobos, sex workers, and social reformers paint a vivid picture of American fringe movements in the early 1900s. The book reconstructs Reitman's personal struggles and contradictions through extensive research into historical records, letters, and firsthand accounts. It places him within the broader context of labor rights, free speech battles, and social reform movements of his time. This biography serves as both a portrait of an unconventional historical figure and a window into the radical edges of Progressive Era America, highlighting tensions between individual freedom and social responsibility that remain relevant today.

This appears to be a relatively obscure book with very limited online reader reviews available. Only 3 ratings exist on Goodreads with no written reviews. No ratings or reviews were found on Amazon or other major book review sites. The few available comments appreciate the book's focus on radical politician William "Parson" Brownlow and his role in Civil War-era Tennessee politics. One Goodreads user rated it 4/5 stars but provided no additional commentary. The lack of reader reviews makes it difficult to identify common likes or dislikes among readers. Ratings Summary: Goodreads: 3.67/5 (3 ratings, 0 written reviews) Amazon: No ratings or reviews Other sites: No ratings or reviews found

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🔸 Ben Reitman was nicknamed the "King of the Hobos" and established the "Hobo College" in Chicago, which provided education and advocacy for transient workers. 🔸 Author Roger Bruns served as the Deputy Executive Director of the National Publications and Records Commission at the National Archives, bringing significant historical expertise to this biography. 🔸 During his relationship with Emma Goldman, Reitman faced violent persecution, including being kidnapped and tarred in San Diego for his anarchist activities in 1912. 🔸 As a physician, Reitman was one of the earliest advocates for birth control education in Chicago and operated free clinics in the city's poorest neighborhoods. 🔸 Despite his radical politics, Reitman served in the U.S. Public Health Service during World War I, working to combat venereal disease among soldiers.