Publisher's Synopsis
""Account of the Terrific and Fatal Riot at the New York Astor Place Opera House, on the Night of May 10, 1849"" is a historical book written by H.M. Ranney. The book describes the events of a violent riot that took place in New York City on May 10, 1849, at the Astor Place Opera House. The riot was caused by a rivalry between two famous actors of the time, William Charles Macready and Edwin Forrest. Macready, a British actor, was performing in a production of Macbeth, while Forrest, an American actor, was performing in a nearby theater. The rivalry between the two actors had been brewing for some time, and when Macready arrived in New York, tensions reached a boiling point. The book provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the riot, as well as the riot itself. It describes how a group of working-class men, who were supporters of Forrest, began to gather outside the opera house, protesting Macready's performance. The protest turned violent when the police arrived to disperse the crowd, and a full-scale riot erupted. The rioters began throwing stones and other objects at the police, and the police responded with force, resulting in several deaths and many injuries.The book also provides a broader historical context for the riot, discussing the social and political climate of the time, including the growing tensions between the working class and the wealthy elite. The book is an important historical document, providing a vivid and detailed account of a significant event in American history.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
