Candy Men:The Story of Switzer's Licorice

Candy Men:The Story of Switzer's Licorice by Patrick Murphy    182 pages 

Summary (from Library catalog): The sweet smell of licorice and the giant candy bar painted on the factory wall at the Eads Bridge remain locked into the collective memory of generations of St. Louisans. Candymen: The History of Switzers Licorice tells the story of how two Irish-American families began a candy company in the kitchen of a tenement in St. Louis' Irish slum and showed the world how the American Dream can be built upon a foundation of candy. In a story that passes through three generations, two World Wars, economic depressions, and labor unrest, the Murphys and the Switzers dedicated their lives to keeping the dream alive until it was put to an end by forces beyond their control. And yet, in an unlikely turn of events, the story continues today with a fresh twist and a renewed life of its own.

And here's what I thought:

I had seen a segment on Living St. Louis about this book and it sounded really interesting. Because I'm not from St. Louis, I'm still learning a lot about the City and its history --- and while I didn't have memories of Switzer's Licorice to draw upon, the book was still really interesting. Learning about these two families was interesting, especially because a few of the really influential people weren't actually men, but women (which makes me think that the title should be Candy Men (and the incredibly savvy and strong women who helped them)....).  It's fun to learn about this company and think about where their buildings were located, as well as the candies they made. I found myself wondering how some of them tasted, too --- Buttermellos sound pretty good!

This is a good book to read in tandem with Candy Freak by Steve Almond.