Sketches in Crude-oil - Some accidents and incidents of the petroleum development in all parts of the globe

John J. McLaurin

Summary

In "Sketches in Crude-oil," John J. McLaurin offers a compelling and vividly painted portrayal of American life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly against the backdrop of the burgeoning oil industry. Utilizing the literary style of realism infused with impressionistic elements, McLaurin captures the socio-economic transformations and human experiences dictated by the rise of industrialization. The collection consists of intricate sketches that blend personal anecdotes with a broader commentary on the cultural and environmental ramifications of oil extraction, showcasing a critical lens toward the American Dream. As a renowned author and journalist, McLaurin's background in sociology and his firsthand experiences within the oil fields greatly informed his literary pursuits. His unique perspective as a witness to the rapid industrial growth and its impact on individual lives enriches the narratives, which often highlight the struggles and aspirations of the working class. McLaurin's ability to weave personal narratives with socio-political commentary is a testament to his commitment to shedding light on marginalized voices during a transformative period in American history. "Sketches in Crude-oil" is essential for readers interested in the intersection of literature, sociology, and history. McLaurin's keen observations and heartfelt storytelling resonate with contemporary conversations about industry and community. This collection transcends mere historical documentation, inviting readers to reflect on the complex human experiences shaped by economic forces and to engage with the ongoing dialogue about progress and its discontents.

Available since: 10/30/2023.

Print length: 777 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Delivering Virtue - A Dark...

Brian Kindall

A magnet for trouble. A dubious destiny. His quest for true love could succeed if only his moral compass didn’t point South. 
The American West, 1850. Former French dandy Didier Rain’s weakness for saloon girls, money, and whiskey keeps derailing his plan to join the pantheon of epic poets. So, when he’s approached by holy men claiming he’s part of a prophecy, he agrees to transport an infant bride for a soul-selling sum of $30,000. But to fulfill his foretold role, he’ll have to succeed at two tasks at which he's always failed: keeping the cork in the bottle and his pants buttoned. 
Unable to resist lustful impulses and outrageously depraved detours, Rain wreaks havoc through his augured misfortunes. Riding the treacherous pioneer landscape, his non-existent survival instincts send him down a trail littered with his own sin and probable doom. 
Will Rain’s questionable care deliver the girl to her groom unsullied by his unsavory pursuits? 
Delivering Virtue, A Dark Comedy Adventure of the West is the first book in the sublimely twisted historical magical realism series, The Epic of Didier Rain. If you like absurdist fiction, witty wordplay, and sordid humor, then you’ll love Brian Kindall’s quirky foray into a reimagined American Frontier.

Show book

Murder at the Masked Ball - A...

Magda Alexander

Amateur sleuth Kitty Worthington once more investigates when a noble lord plummets to his death, and a dear friend is suspected of murder. 
 
 
 
London. 1923. When an invitation arrives to the Duchess of Brightwell's Midsummer Masked Ball, Kitty Worthington does not even think of declining. Not with a mother on the hunt for a noble husband for her. But no sooner does she curtsy to her hostess at the ball than tragedy strikes. A very dead earl is found at the bottom of a staircase, and it's clearly the work of foul play. 
 
 
 
Having proven himself a dab hand at dealing with the nobility, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Robert Crawford is soon asked to investigate. In no time at all he hones in on Lord Newcastle, a friend of Kitty who'd earlier pummeled the earl for sorely abusing his wife. 
 
 
 
Afraid her friend may wrongfully pay with his life, Kitty once more organizes her ace team, including her maid, two noble lords, a beloved sister, a lady, and Sir Winston, her still flatulent Basset Hound. From the seediest parts of London, to the fancy mansions of Mayfair, they fearlessly pursue the truth. For if they fail to find the killer, their dear friend may dance one last jig at the end of a rope.

Show book

Space Chase

Harold Anderson, Tom Lyons

Not everything they told you is true… 
…because it was my job to ensure you never knew the whole truth. If the American people understood what really happened, the U.S. government feared life would have irrevocably changed for the worse. 
In Space Chase, the premier installment of The Palmdale Files, former agent Harold Anderson reveals the true story behind a mysterious Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady" crash in the mountains of Nevada and the extreme efforts the U.S. government went through to hide what happened. Space Chase—also known as Event 21 Zeta—is the first in a series of forgotten and buried events the author once destroyed to protect the peace and security of the United States—events the government would rather hide forever. 
Never heard of Palmdale? The author isn't surprised, and believes you never will outside of these short stories. The Palmdale Files share highlights from Harold Anderson's U.S. Air Force career, where he worked to defend the nation and the world from paranoid hysteria about unexplained phenomena and threats from above.

Show book

Triumph Street Bucharest

Dov Hoenig

Bucharest, before and during World War II, where Bernard Davidescou lives with his parents and his older brother on Triumph Street, in the middle of a courtyard block inhabited by a dozen Jewish families and two Christian ones. When Romania, under General Ion Antonescu's dictatorship, allies itself with Hitler and invades the USSR, the Jews in Bucharest face the threat of being sent to the Nazi extermination camps, after having survived the terror of the fascist Iron Guard. However, each Sunday morning, young Bernard, age twelve, passionate about politics and history, amazes the adults in the courtyard, Jews and Christians alike, with his analysis of the political situation in Romania and the development of the war on all fronts.

'Rue du Triomphe' is the story of this young boy and his dreams and torments during this dark period of human history, while also chronicling a family in crisis, the discovery of sexuality and first loves, and the distraction offered by the cinema, religious searching and idealistic aspirations for a better world.

Show book

Preacher's Strike

J. A. Johnstone, William W....

Preacher leads a search party for a missing woman—and finds himself caught in the crossfire of cutthroat kidnappers, savage Sioux warriors, and one cunning captive . . . 
 
 
 
Preacher is heading home to the mountains when he's approached by a wealthy European with an unusual proposition. He wants the legendary mountain man to track down his missing cousin—a reckless young woman who fled to America with her lover—and he's willing to pay a small fortune to find her. Preacher isn't one to get mixed up in the affairs of fancy foreigners, but he reluctantly agrees. The search is on. Striking westward from St. Louis, Preacher quickly begins to suspect that this search party is doomed. And this trail will lead to some very dead ends . . . 
 
 
 
First off, they discover that the missing woman's American lover was killed by Teton Sioux years ago. Secondly, the murderous Knox gang heard about the rich European's fortune and plan to kidnap him for a ransom. Thirdly, a fierce band of Sioux warriors launch an attack on Preacher and his men. Things are looking pretty grim. But the biggest shock of all comes when Preacher finally meets the missing woman herself—and sees what she did to survive . . .

Show book

The Messenger of Measham Hall -...

Anna Abney

Return to mysterious Measham Hall in this page-turning tale of espionage and intrigue in the years leading up to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. 
For Nicholas Hawthorne, the Catholic heir to Measham Hall in Derbyshire, subterfuge is part of everyday life. But there are deeper and darker secrets even than his family’s outlawed religion: why is his father, Sir William, so reclusive? What became of his mother, and his aunt Alethea? And who fatally betrayed his cousin Matthew? 
Nicholas is determined to find out, but as England slides towards invasion by the Protestant forces of Prince William of Orange, he becomes entangled in conspiracies within King James’s court – and soon learns that both truth and love come at a high price…  
'It's rare for a historical novel to feel so timely.' - JO BAKER, Sunday Times bestselling author of Longbourn 
'Impeccably researched and wonderfully atmospheric, with a heroine you can't help rooting for.' - FRANCES QUINN, author of The Smallest Man 
'Exciting and immersive. It took me straight into the heart of Restoration England in all its rich and vivid detail. I was gripped!' - NICOLA CORNICK, international bestselling author of House of Shadows

Show book