The Shame of the Cities (eBook)

Lincoln Steffens (1866-1936) was an American journalist, lecturer, and political philosopher, renowned for his dedication to uncovering corruption in municipal governments in the United States. Born in San Francisco, California, Steffens was educated at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at Leipzig University in Germany. His international education imbued in him a cosmopolitan perspective which he brought back to his career in journalism. Steffens began his foray into journalism in New York City, where his reporting would eventually lead him to become one of the most influential muckrakers of the early 20th century—a term describing journalists who exposed economic and political corruption to the public. His seminal work 'The Shame of the Cities' (1904) remains a pivotal reference in the study of Progressive Era journalism. In this exposé, Steffens unveiled the corrupt alliance between big business and municipal government, from St. Louis to New York, which resonated deeply with the American reading public and influenced subsequent reform movements. Steffens' literary style was characterized by sharp observations and a relentless pursuit of the truth, coupled with a narrative skill that read more like a novel than a dry account, making his analysis of societal ills both engaging and educational. His legacy endures in journalism education and in the spirit of investigative reporting that challenges the status quo.