An award-winning journalist, Ken Ellingwood has been posted in the San Diego, Mexico City, Jerusalem, and Atlanta bureaus of the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of the critically acclaimed (and prescient) work of investigative journalism Hard Line: Life and Death on the U.S.-Mexico Border. He currently lives in Abu Dhabi.
"A penetrating look into a brutal era in American life, and one man
who paid the greatest penalty for standing up for freedom of
expression. Ken Ellingwood digs into a nearly forgotten time when
mobs ran rampant, pistol duels settled arguments, drinking and
gambling were national pastimes, and abolitionists were treated as
public enemies. Elijah Lovejoy emerged from this perilous world to
publish truth to power, at a time when journalism 'often seemed
more combat than craft, ' and voicing the wrong opinion could
literally cost you your life. This is both a compelling, richly
detailed biography of a pioneer publisher and a startling portrait
of America rife with racial injustice -- an upside-down world where
calling slavery sinful could incite mass violence, even in a
so-called free state like Illinois. That a man like Lovejoy could
stand up to such forces, at great risk to his life and career,
still resounds almost 180 years later as a valuable lesson in moral
courage and the power of the First Amendment -- and a story that
any reader of history will find captivating and inspiring."--J.D.
Dickey, author of Rising in Flames and the forthcoming Republic of
Violence
"First to Fall is an ode to courageous journalism - a timely
reminder of the painstaking pursuit of truth and the ultimate
sacrifice to secure a healthy democracy. The epic, tragic story is
about Elijah Lovejoy, a tantalizing figure and the first American
journalist killed for his work. Ellingwood delivers a crisp,
punchy, page-turner, backed by meticulous reporting. First to Fall
is a superb, illuminating read--at an urgent time." --Alfredo
Corchado, author of Homeland, reporter for The Dallas Morning News
and recipient of Colby College's 2010 Elijah Lovejoy Award
"First to Fall is not just a rich and well told tale; it's a
genetic test for modern journalism, an exploration of foundational
American principles-- the power of individuals, the fearless
defense of a free press, and the deeper values of equality, justice
and truth-telling at any cost. The story of Lovejoy's martyrdom
rhymes with the risks of reporters now facing rubber bullets and
death threats. Fascinating in its own right, this history is also a
bracing parable for our times."--Nancy Gibbs, former Editor in
Chief, TIME, and Lombard Director of the Shorenstein Center on
Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
"Anyone who cares about press freedom should read First to Fall,
which tells the unforgettable story of Elijah Lovejoy, a 19th
century journalist who fought to end slavery and was killed for
expressing his abolitionist views. In the aftermath of his 1837
murder, some of America's leading lights spoke out and proclaimed
that violence and intimidation should never again be allowed to set
the parameters of public debate. First to Fall is a gripping
historical account with a lesson for our time."--Joel Simon, author
of THE NEW CENSORSHIP and executive direct of the Committee to
Protect Journalists
Ask a Question About this Product More... |