Book Review: Mitchel P. Roth, Fire in the Big House: America’s Deadliest Prison Disaster. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press. 2019.

Abstract

In his book, Fire in the Big House, criminal justice historian, Mitchel P. Roth provides readers with an in-depth analysis of America’s deadliest penal disaster. The book specifically examines a horrific fire which occurred at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio on April 21, 1930—Easter Monday. Even though 320 prisoners perished in this devastating event (plus two more inmates who died later of gunshots indirectly related to the fire), the author notes that there has never been a scholarly book devoted to this topic. Although this event caused only $11,000 in damage to the Columbus institution, Roth contends that it still ranks as America’s third-worst fire (excluding 9/11).