I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know much about union organizers in the 1910s, and I definitely didn't know anything about the copper mine strike in Minnesota. Russell really brought their story to life, focusing on the women behind the strike, particularly Annie Clmenc (Clements in the book).

This isn't a happy book. But it was a good and important one. Russell depicted the ruthlessness of the strikebreakers, the callous patriarchal and exploitative nature of the men who ran the copper company, and the determination of the union organizers. Some famous historical figures to the labor movement made their way through the story.

I always expect a well-told well-researched story from Russell, and this did not disappoint in that respect. I suspect some will be disappointed in the ending, which was not a particularly uplifting or happy one, but I thought it suited the book and the times very well.

Annie Clements is known, in history, as "America's Joan of Arc" and rightly so. We meet Annie in 1913 in Calumet, Michigan where the world's largest copper mine is located. A very tall women, towering over many of the men, she looks fierce, but Annie has a kind heart, difficult in a company town where so many miners are killed. With funeral(s) taking place most every week, with the men wishy-washy about joining a union, it was up to the women to take over the reins. Women, who scrub, keep house, cook and wait for their men at the end of a 12 hour day, never knowing if they will be coming home. All this for meager pay, long hours and a sense of doom that fill their households. Finally, it is Annie who stands up, for herself, for the community. Gathering the women together, Annie Clements starts a rebellion and leads a strike against the company.

As a fan of historical fiction, this, for me, was a must read. I never expected to find such a provocative, well written story. Annie's strength, her courage to face a company bigger than she was is remarkable but at what cost? How did her husband feel, did he stand behind her, support her and the rebellion? Will Annie reap the rewards from the justice she is seeking? It was women like Annie Clements who fought the good fight, who were at the forefront of the labor movement, making it possible for workers to have better hours, pay and health benefit. For those of you who aren't familiar with this part of our history, this book, strong and masterful in its telling, will fill you in. I have never read Ms. Russell's books before, but I will be looking for her novels now.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Authentic settings and accurate voices create such a deeply real tale and account of the copper mill strike and Annie Clements that all readers will hope beyond hope for some fortunate outcome. Expertly researched and edited to the perfect shaft of storytelling. Another unmistakable treasure from Russell.

Twenty-five year old Annie Clements, called Big Annie because of her height, became "America's Joan of Arc" to the copper miners in northern Calumet, Michigan. When the big mining companies and their representative refuse to shorten the work day and pay more than subsistence wages, the miners go on strike. Big Annie leads the Women's Auxiliary and becomes the face of the whole strike movement. How much is Annie willing to sacrifice for the emerging, early 20th Century labor movement and the miners in Calumet?

This is not a quick, easy read, but it is an insightful look into the life of poor immigrants vs the wealthy company men.

Mary Doria Rusell is an excellent storyteller, and she proves it again in this highly emotional novel. I kind of love stories about strength of women in little communion, in times, when they hadn't a lot of pirvileges and was terated only like a things for breeding children.

It's slow moving novel, but it shows the depth of characters and it's really well written.