Description
Book SynopsisTo combat behavior they viewed as sexually promiscuous, politically undesirable, or downright criminal, social activists in Progressive-era New York employed private investigators to uncover the roots of society's problems. This title reveals the central role of undercover investigation in social change and the constitution of political authority.
Trade Review"This impressively researched book makes an important contribution to a wide range of central themes in modern American history, including the growth of state power and the policing of class, race, and gender relations. In this age of terrorism, 'homeland security' initiatives, the expanded use of wiretapping and other forms of surveillance, and a new debate about the relationship between civil liberties and governmental authority, New York Undercover is also timely." - Jeffrey Adler, University of Florida"
