The Dynamite Club

On a February evening in 1894, a young radical intellectual named Emile Henry drank two beers at an upscale Parisian restaurant, then left behind a bomb as a parting gift. This incident, which rocked the French capital, lies at the heart of `The Dynamite Club’, a mesmerising account of Henry and his cohorts and the war they waged against the bourgeoisie – setting off bombs in public places, killing the president of France, and eventually assassinating President McKinley in 1900. Paris in the belle epoque was a place of leisure, elegance and power. Newly electrified, the city’s wide boulevards were lined with posh department stores and outdoor cafes. But prosperity was limited to a few. Most lived in dire poverty, and workers and intellectuals found common cause in a political Philosophy – anarchism – that embraced the overthrow of the state by any means necessary. Yet in targeting civilians to achieve their ends, the dynamite bombers charted a new course. Seeking martyrdom, believing fervently in their goal, and provoking a massive government reaction that only increased their ranks, these “evildoers” became, in effect, the first terrorists in modern history. Surprising and provocative, `The Dynamite Club’ is a brilliantly researched account that illuminates a period of dramatic social and political change – and subtly asks us to reflect upon our own.