PRAISE FOR THE BATTLE OF BLAIR MOUNTAIN

“From atop Blair Mountain, Robert Shogan has conjured a vivid vision of modern America in the making in the bloody coal field struggles of 1920s West Virginia. Infused with the humane intelligence of one of our most distinguished political correspondents, this haunting tale restores a shocking chapter of American history to its rightful place in this nation’s unfolding saga of democratic aspirations and shattered dreams. It is a rare gem of a book.”

—JOSEPH A. McCARTIN, Georgetown University, author of
Labor’s Great War

 

“Robert Shogan sheds new light on this long-neglected episode of the labor movement’s ongoing struggle for workers’ rights. For too long, the significant Battle of Blair Mountain has been merely a footnote in American history books. Now, the real story of America’s largest labor uprising—and the largest armed insurrection on U.S. soil since the Civil War—comes alive. As a native of Cabin Creek, W.Va.—and the great-nephew of the miners’ commander, Bill Blizzard—I take personal interest in reading about my union’s pivotal role in this historic rebellion for economic and social justice.”

—CECIL ROBERTS, president, United Mine Workers of America

“Bob Shogan has covered seven presidents and countless political campaigns. Now he tells the story of a forgotten chapter of American history—an armed uprising by 10,000 West Virginia coal miners against the coal companies that dominated their lives, exploited their labor, and controlled their state government. This book is a riveting refutation of the comforting conventional wisdom that there has never been class struggle in America.”

—DAVID KUSNET, chief speechwriter for former president
Bill Clinton (1992–1994), and author of Speaking American:
How the Democrats Can Win in the Nineties

 

“Here is a book about forgotten events that took place 80 years ago in a little understood corner of our nation. What a surprise that Bob Shogan has not only found ample documentary evidence to convince us of the historical significance of these battles between miners and mine owners in southern WV, but also spun a rip roaring tale full of shockingly vivid and down-to-earth portraits. When the tale is told, Shogan’s conclusion seems irrefutable: our nation paid a heavy price in economic justice and social progress when state and federal authorities failed to ensure workers’ basic freedom to form unions.”

—RICHARD L. TRUMKA, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO, and
Past President, United Mine Workers of America

 

shocking chapter of American history to its rightful place in this nation’s unfolding saga of democratic aspirations and shattered dreams. It is a rare gem of a book.”

—JOSEPH A. McCARTIN, Georgetown University,
author of Labor’s Great War

 

“Robert Shogan sheds new light on this long-neglected episode of the labor movement’s ongoing struggle for workers’ rights. For too long, the significant Battle of Blair Mountain has been merely a footnote in American history books. Now, the real story of America’s largest labor uprising—and the largest armed insurrection on U.S. soil since the Civil War—comes alive. As a native of Cabin Creek, W.Va.—and the great-nephew of the miners’ commander, Bill Blizzard—I take personal interest in reading about my union’s pivotal role in this historic rebellion for economic and social justice.”

—CECIL ROBERTS, president, United Mine Workers of America

 

“Bob Shogan has covered seven presidents and countless political campaigns. Now he tells the story of a forgotten chapter of American history—an armed uprising by 10,000 West Virginia coal miners against the coal companies that dominated their lives, exploited their labor, and controlled their state government. This book is a riveting refutation of the comforting conventional wisdom that there has never been class struggle in America.”

—DAVID KUSNET, chief speechwriter for former president
Bill Clinton (1992–1994), and author of Speaking American:
How the Democrats Can Win in the Nineties

 

“Here is a book about forgotten events that took place 80 years ago in a little understood corner of our nation. What a surprise that Bob Shogan has not only found ample documentary evidence to convince us of the historical significance of these battles between miners and mine owners in southern WV, but also spun a rip roaring tale full of shockingly vivid and down-to-earth portraits. When the tale is told, Shogan’s conclusion seems irrefutable: our nation paid a heavy price in economic justice and social progress when state and federal authorities failed to ensure workers’ basic freedom to form unions.”

—RICHARD L. TRUMKA, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO, and
Past President, United Mine Workers of America