Some historical fiction to close out the month! I MIGHT be able to finish one more before the end of the day!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review
REDNECKS - Taylor Brown (Released May 14th, 2024)
Book Description:
A historical drama based on the Battle of Blair Mountain, pitting a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners against mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labor uprising in American history.
Rednecks is a tour de force, big canvas historical novel that dramatizes the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars—from the Matewan Massacre through the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War, when some one million rounds were fired, bombs were dropped on Appalachia, and the term "redneck" would come to have an unexpected origin story.
Brimming with the high stakes drama of America's buried history, Rednecks tells a powerful story of rebellion against oppression. In a land where the coal companies use violence and intimidation to keep miners from organizing, "Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author's own great-grandfather), toils amid the blood and injustice of the mining camps. When Frank Hugham, a Black World War One veteran and coal miner, takes dramatic steps to lead a miners' revolt with a band of fellow veterans, Doc Moo risks his life and career to treat sick and wounded miners, while Frank's grandmother, Beulah, fights her own battle to save her home and grandson. Real-life historical figures burn bright among the hills: the fiery Mother Jones, an Irish-born labor organizer once known as "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," struggles to maintain the ear of the miners ("her boys") amid the tide of rebellion, while the sharp-shooting police chief "Smilin" Sid Hatfield dares to stand up to the "gun thugs" of the coal companies, becoming a folk hero of the mine wars.
Award-winning novelist Taylor Brown brings to life one of the most compelling events in 20th century American history, reminding us of the hard-won origins of today's unions. Rednecks is a propulsive, character-driven tale that's both a century old and blisteringly contemporary: a story of unexpected friendship, heroism in the face of injustice, and the power of love and community against all odds.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
While I don't read it as frequently as horror and thrillers, one of my favorite genres is historical fiction. ESPECIALLY when done right and about topics that aren't widely written about. Yes, I love a great WWII historical fiction book, but I like learning about the lesser known events or historical figures. Taylor Brown achieved this with REDNECKS. Have you ever heard of the Battle of Blair Mountain? I never had, either. This battle was the largest labor uprising in American history. How had I not heard of this before? This was between a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners and the mine owners, state militia, and the United States government.
I know an author has done a phenomenal job when I immediately do research when I finish reading. The details included were impressive and you can tell that Brown did his due diligence in terms of getting the facts correct and sprinkled throughout. Now, don't worry if you don't like the books that read like a textbook, because this is a dramatization. Specifically of the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars (including the Matewan Massacre and up through the Battle of Blair Mountain). This was the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War that included about one million rounds being fired and even having bombs dropped on Appalachia. The most surprising part was the origin of the word 'redneck'. "They wear red bandannas around their necks, as if their throats have already been cut. People will call them primitives and hillbillies, anarchists and insurrectionists. They will call them Rednecks."
The storytelling in this is mesmerizing and you feel like you're right there in the action. The characters come to life and you experience the struggles and the defeats, but also the hope and determination as they begin to fight for their rights and lead the rebellion. We also get to meet some historical figures in this novel, like the labor organizer known as the "most dangerous woman in America". I loved this and will be keeping an eye out for more from Brown in the future. More historical fiction, I hope!
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