"Rednecks" by Taylor Brown is a historical fiction book about a battle you may not have heard of - The Battle of Blair Mountain. This battle took place in West Virginia in the early 1920s. Mining conditions were horrible back in the 1920s and since owners called all the shots, miners were necessary but disposable. This book is definitely slanted in the pro-union side - and fiery Mother Jones makes a few appearances. Would I have liked this book a little more balanced regarding the “sides,” maybe - but I think the characters are what really sold this book. Frank, Dr. Moo, Musa, Mama B, Smilin’ Sid, and others capture different aspects of this story wonderfully. I think this book would be made into a great TV movie of some sort - it’s got depth, action, motives, and community. I’ve already recommended this book to someone who likes both Mother Jones and history. Very well written, very well researched, and overall a very well done book.

During 1920 to 1921 in the hills of West Virginia, striking mine workers and company men faced off against one another in a forgotten war. Over one million bullets were fired, bombs were dropped, and men died in droves. This book singles out a handful of characters including Doc Moo a Lebanese-American, Frank Hugham, a black miner and Smilin Sid Hatfield, the town’s sheriff.

This was a well written and engaging book - I had a hard time putting it down! I was amazed that this battle was fought on American soil, but is not mentioned in the history books. I am also fascinated by the history of labor relations in the US and how workers struggled and fought for their rights. Overall, highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is a story about a war in West Virginia between coal miners and the owners of the mines. Coal miners are expected to work 6 days a week for 12 hours a day risking their lives just to scrape by making a living. The owners of the mines have hired thugs to bully miners into working in terrible conditions, taking away their houses and putting all of their belongings in the streets when anyone is thought to be considering joining a union.
It is always mind blowing to me that these types of things were happening in the United States just in the last century. The things that these miners and their families had to endure just to survive is so appalling and it was just the way things were back then!
On a side note, I absolutely loved Dr. Moo and he was my favorite character in this book.
This is a great story for anyone that likes a realistic historical fiction. It seremed a bit repetitive to me, but overall was a decent read.

Historical fiction can be such an underrated and unappreciated genre but this author not only brings the story to life but does it in a way that does justice to the truth in the story. The characters are real and honest and captivate you alongside the story. The writing style feels historically accurate as well. Highly, HIGHLY recommend this book if you want a fun quick read that tells a good and TRUE story.

Rednecks was a piece of history lost in the history books. Considered the "Second Civil War," it begins with the Matewan Massacre, and heading into the Battle of Tug, it follows Dr. "Moo" as he battles which side to take, Coal Miners, or "King Coal" and the business men. While his internal struggle allow him to treat the victims on both sides of this bloody battle between the working man and the rich man, he eventually reaches a point of no return, where he is forced to pick a side, choosing those in his town, the working man.

This story follows both sides of the battle, but focuses on the struggles the coal miners endured throughout this "war." There was a lot of research put into this story, a little fiction in the characters and how the story played out, and a clear, descriptive history of this event that goes unnoticed. The depth of a battles was a little much for me at times, but also very necessary in setting the tone and understand the severity of the fighting.

Note: LinkedIn won't link and has not for months... ironic, right??? So I posted it there on its own.

Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
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It is 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 labour 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 American soil, and the term “redneck” would come to have an unexpected origin story.

Featuring real-life and invented characters--men and women, adults and children, Black and white and immigrants from many countries who worked in the dangerous West Virginia coal mines--Rednecks tells a dramatic story of rebellion against oppression. Taylor Brown introduces crucial point of view characters: "Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author’s own great-grandfather) who serves the mining camps; Frank Hugham, a Black miner who helps lead the miners' revolt; Frank's mother Beulah, who fights to save her home and her son; and true-life folk hero "Smilin" Sid Hatfield, a sharp-shooting sheriff who dares to stand up to the “gun thugs” of the coal companies. These and other characters come fully to life in 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 outsized odds.

Through inspired portraits of real-life characters including legendary union organizer Mother Jones, to dynamic battle scenes set in the West Virginia hill country, award-winning novelist Taylor Brown reimagines one of the most compelling events in 20th-century American history.

Being Canadian, I had never heard of this strike before but on a cold winter night, this was a great book to snuggle in with. Lots of facts for those of us ignorant of the strike, and well written to not read as nonfiction but as a gripping historical novel. Perfect for individual readers and books-clubs alike: #shortbutsweetreviews

They should make this book into a movie, however, if they were true to the written word, I would not watch it. It would be too bloody and gory, and horrifying to watch the reality that is portrayed in these pages. It is difficult for me to comprehend that I never heard of this battle in West Virginia, on American soil with dirty bombs and US Army involvement. I was engrossed in the story and highly appreciated the writing style and accounts of the fights for human rights that was realistic enough to get the point across of the horror of it all, but not gory for the sake of gore. This is a new author to me, but I will definitely be checking out his previous books and will be on the lookout for his next one. I wish I could give this book 10 stars instead of five. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

The story of the coal miners fighting for better work conditions and wages. The miners worked very long hours, 6 days a week in the dark, using shovels and pick axes for a poverty wage, while the owners got rich.
When they complained and organizers began to unionize, the coal miners were kicked out of their shacks and new workers brought in. For months they lived in tents, starving and cold until they rebelled. A magnificent account of the deadliest rebellion where over a million shots were fired. Based on fact with fictional fill ins. An excellent reminder of how and why we have unions today.

Another brilliant novel by Brown. I have read all his books to date and he is such a wonderful author. I live in this area and had no idea about this situation happening. His books are always such a joy.

This novel brings to mind the lyrics of the mournful Merle Travis folk song, “Sixteen Tons.” One can’t help but hear the words sung by either of these proud “rednecks”  Tennessee Ernie Ford or Johnny Cash. “You load 16 tons, what do ya get? Another day older and deeper in debt … I owe my soul to the company store.” Clearly, the labor of West Virginia miners in the 20’s was essential for the world economy, yet their welfare was poorly appreciated by corporate owners and a complicit government. Brown’s novel emphasizes the cruel injustices that the miners faced as well as their heroism and comraderies. Their violent struggle has been lost to history because, as Brown points out, the history is told be the winners. Despite the shocking nature of what Brown depicts in this novel, many of the underlying issues have yet to be fully resolved. Union busting and corporate/government collusion still present problems for society.

The focuses of the story are the violent confrontations in the 20’s between the coal barons along with their hired thugs and politicians versus miners in Metewan and especially Blair Mountain. Conditions were inhumane, including long hours below ground, constant danger, low pay, a shortened lifespan, and an oppressive system that bordered on slavery. The latter included payment in script that was only good in the company stores, laissez faire medical care, and company owned housing that could be withdrawn at any time leaving families homeless and destitute.

Brown tells the story in exquisite detail using a combination of actual historical figures (e.g., "Smilin" Sid Hatfield and Mother Jones) and fictional characters who are loosely based on actual people (e.g., "Doc Moo" Muhanna, Frank Hugham, and Frank’s mother Miss Beulah). Brown’s narrative imagines the humanity of these people along with the extreme level of violence that took place during the uprising. Human life was unmistakably cheapened. He conveys senses of hopelessness and rage that undoubtedly pervaded the outgunned miners. If the novel has any shortcoming, it might be a lack of balance in the telling. He represents the miner side as almost universally high minded and heroic, while the owners and their supporters are shown as greedy, almost depraved, and undoubtedly racist. Their symbol of red bandanas worn around the neck persists to this day as a racist meme.

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

Rednecks by Taylor Brown is a well written historical fiction that I had such a hard time putting away.
A brilliantly-written adventure story. A captivating time in history, well-paced plot, lovable, but flawed characters.
The rich details given by the author were very satisfying, and made the history come alive. And the beautiful prose, I found myself immersed in this literary fiction.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I read this book with an eye toward purchase for my history buffs at the high school level, and it did not disappoint. A compelling narrative nonfiction that will resonate with my blue collar population.

Most people have heard of the ongoing struggles of miners against the owners of coal companies, but Rednecks illuminates a very specific episode largely absent from histories of the United States. In the early part of the 20th century, an actual war was fought by men whose only crime was wanting decent working conditions and a living wage in exchange for back-breaking work. The miners and their families were cruelly abused by hired thugs, wealthy local volunteers, and, eventually, by American soldiers. (It was ironic that many of the miners were veterans of the First World War, who wore the same uniforms that they wore in the trenches of Europe.) The term "Rednecks," which has become a slur against certain people, actually refers to the red bandanas worn by the miners.
Taylor Brown writes beautifully about tragic events. He creates powerful characters alongside of actual historical persons like Mother Jones and Sid Hatfield. The book is long but it never lags. I felt as if I were present for the brutal battles of Blair Mountain.
While I am glad to have read this book, I would not say i enjoyed it. I have never liked reading or watching fight scenes, battles, or assassinations and Rednecks is almost completely devoted to such horrors. There are a few plesant scenes - a young boy's first kiss, an old woman petting her dog, a family enjoying ice cream sundaes - but these were brief and soon gave way to tragedy.
One caveat - the people were, without exception, either good or bad, heros or villains, saints or sinners. Real people are more complex and I would have preferred that the author acknowledged that truth in his characterizations.
I appreciate the opportunity given me by NetGalley to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great read about the coal miners & families & what they went through trying to form a union to insure that they would get fair pay for all the back breaking work they did in the coal mines.
This takes place in mostly the Appalachian mountains and much if not all is based on fact.
The author certainly did his homework & I would highly recommend this read as it's very enjoyable.
A thank you to netgalley for offering this free read to it's members.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Let me just start off with :This man can write! There are authors who can tell a story and those that use complicated prose that makes your mind really work to figure out what is happening. Taylor pains us a picture so real that you FEEL what it is like to be one of the miners who labor days by day is 4 foot tall tunnels, their lungs sucking in the black dust, all the while the robber barrons live a life of elegance. When the minors DARE ask for some basic human rights they are denied . When they insist and dare join a union they are thrown out of their company shacks and forced to move their families in to shoddy tents. When they dare strike, they are murdered in cold blood by company thugs with the approval of the sheriff , and the governor.
This story tells of the battle to wins their rights, where 10,000 minors came from all over the area to find their powerful oppressor in the bloodiest battle on US soil since the civil war. Though the characters are fictional, you wont soon forget them. Recommend.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, following people involved in the 1920s West Virginia Battle of Blair Mountain, a historical event I had previously not heard of. Taylor Brown writes a fast-paced and layered historical fiction drama. I highly recommend this book to learn more about Appalachia and an important moment in the labor movement of the United States.

This is an absolutely stunning depiction of the early Twentieth Century efforts by West Virginia coal miners to unionize and fight for their own fundamental dignity and independence from mining companies-- stunning in both its beauty and in its horrors. It is a novel, but there is no question that the author meticulously researched the labor battles and every character who is based on a real person. I knew that I was in the hands of an excellent writer when, early in the book, I came to a transitional paragraph about coal that started with a reminder that it is found in the Christmas stockings of wicked children and ended by making that point that coal is also combustible. You can see and smell West Virginia in Taylor Brown's scenery and you can feel the heartbeats of his characters. Immerse yourself in this luscious book and you will come away well informed and inspired.

In Rednecks, Taylor Brown has captured the strength and resilience of the coal mining community in the face of near insurmountable opposition by King Coal and the powerful network of politicians and officials who held the control. The story is rich in detail, accurate in its portrayals, and loaded with emotional pull. As a result of its subject matter, it is heavy and graphically descriptive at times, and its pacing can be grueling in places as the story mimics the miners’ fight for a quality of life.

The plot follows the work of Dr. Moo, a local doctor treating the miners and residents of the mountain-perched communities along the Tug Fork in West Virginia and a young miner named Big Frank, his fellow miners, and his aged grandmother. Through an omniscient narrator and multiple points of view and plot lines, Brown shows how the fight between the miners and the coal companies affected every aspect of life.

The historical accuracy of Rednecks would make it an asset to any middle school or high school study of the Battle of Blair Mountain and the work of Mother Jones and other labor activists. Its characterization and plot lines make it intriguing and enthralling. It is, however, grueling. The descriptions of abuse, violence, and warfare are detailed and graphic. The overpowering sense of helplessness in the face of political and corporate collusion make it heavy and grim. There is little relief from the weight of the story, and the consistent heaviness makes the story difficult to enjoy but accurate and important as a part of a study of the time period and issues.

This novel could be used as enrichment reading or as a small group selection, paired with other historical novels set during the era. I appreciate the strength and courage Brown communicates through the characters and the commitment to accurately depicting the miners’ plight.

REDNECKS
BY: TAYLOR BROWN

Taylor Brown is my absolute favorite author and to say that he's magnificently talented is an understatement. I don't know how he continues to master the finely honed skill of getting better with each new historical novel that he writes. He always manages to create a uniquely distinct highly addictive reading experience that is extremely thrilling to inhale and devour in one sitting. Like a fine painter he creates a visual experience for me as I can actually see in my minds eye the deeply rich and atmospheric setting that he has created as if I am inhabiting the location. For many years his excellent historical novel, called, "Fallen Land," was my favorite. At this time, I have been mulling it over in my mind whether this one called, "Rednecks," holds a tied position, or if this one finally surpassed it as my new favorite by this incredibly gifted author.

This is a beautiful and haunting historical fiction novel where Taylor Brown, has done more than adequate due diligence by including a Bibliography that enumerates thirteen books of which he has more than proven his vast multitude of meticulous research that went into writing this masterpiece. I mean that sincerely, that this is truly a masterpiece.

I want to illuminate that the title, "Rednecks," of which I interpreted it to be the nick name for the coal miners that fought back against corrupt murdering thugs toting guns that took place on Blair Mountain in West Virginia. I might be wrong but I thought the term was coined because of the red bandannas that the coal miners wore. A second reading which I will be more than happy to do, because of how thrilling this was, if I have it wrong then I will come back and update this. This enormous battle has been quickly forgotten, but was the largest one fought on American soil since the Civil War. One million rounds of ammunition were fired and it took the United States Infantry Division of the army to intervene to put an end to it. (As is stated in the novel). This novel takes place during the year 1921. In the generous Author's Note which I always greatly appreciate Taylor Brown states that in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the National Industrial Recovery Act. This guarantees the right of American workers to be able to join labor unions of their choosing. It was part of his famous New Deal legislation, with its intent on being able to bring the United States out of the Great Depression.

Also as a part of the generous Author's Note that is of great interest to me that as soon as the coal miners surrendered the State of West Virginia charged more than one thousand of them. Among the charges that the state brought against the miners were treason, insurrection, and murder. I was deeply invested in this story which ends before any charges are brought. I was rooting the whole time for the coal miners' who I viewed as the underdog and they had my sympathy throughout for all of the injustices that were unfairly visited upon them. They were overworked and grossly underpaid for performing a dangerous job that had deadly consequences for many of them.

Bill Blizzard who was an American union organizer and who also was the commander of the miners' army during the Battle of Blair Mountain, and president of District 17 of the United Mine Workers (UMWA). Bill Blizzard is most remembered for his role in the Battle of Blair Mountain leading the miners' against the forces of Logan County sheriff Don Chafin. For his leadership role in the battle, Blizzard was charged with treason, but was acquitted at his trial of these charges. I did my own research on Bill Blizzard. I did glean from the generous Author's Note that he went to trial first and the state prosecutor recused himself calling the trial a farce and the coal operators' own attorneys stepped in to lead the prosecution. In Taylor Brown's words he said that "Yes, the hired guns of the Coal Operators Association would try a man for treason against the state and bill that state more than $100,000 for the privilege--such as the law in that time in place. Blizzard was acquitted after the defense unveiled their secret weapon, an unexploded bomb dropped on the marchers. It was dismantled on the courtroom floor to reveal a cruel payload of intended shrapnel: fifteen nuts, seven bolts, a ratchet wheel, and a bucket's worth of nails, screws, and irregular metal fragments meant to liquefy human flesh." This type of bomb was used against the miners in the novel as they were dropped on them from airplanes.

Big Frank Hugham was the central character that in my memory played the main role of the very abused miner. He was taken by the law and intercepted on a train platform on his way home and severely beaten and scarred. There wasn't any record of his arrest and the horrendous beating that was perpetrated on him. Frank, his gentle grandmother who was put out of her home by King Coal among many others who were forced to live in the woods in tents. As well as the only physician who was Doctor Domit Muhanna were my three favorite characters. All three of them were kind, humble and were people who I wish were my friends. They were the kind of characters that are easy to love. I was disappointed to read in the Author's Note that Big Frank Hugham is a fictional character, but on a positive side his character is inspired by two men. One of the men is Dan "Few Clothes Johnson" Chain, a prominent labor organizer with fists like "picnic hams," who was a member of the Dirty Eleven commando force during the Paint Creek Mine War of 1912, and Frank Ingham, a veteran Mingo miner and a UMWA member who was beaten, jailed, and evicted on multiple occasions for his Union membership and sympathies. Frank Inham's wrongful arrest and attempted murder in Welch runs particularly close to scenes portrayed in the book. I agree wholeheartedly that Taylor Brown did give Big Frank Hugham the same mixture of the two real men which he successfully blended to sketch into the composite of this wonderful protagonist that he developed. Closer to this fantastic author's heart is my other favorite character who is the second male protagonist, Doctor Domit Muhanna who was inspired by Taylor Brown's great-grandfather. The author's great-grandfather Domit Simon Sphire, a farmer's son who emigrated to the United States from Mount Lebanon in 1889, at the age of fourteen, alone except for a priest as a chaperone. He graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine, eloped with Buddeea Muhanna of Deir al-Ahmar, and became a well respected physician and medical examiner in rural Kentucky. The author's maternal grandmother, Amelia Sphire Smart, was the fourth daughter of six children, five daughters and one son--the "baby," Mosa. The author, Taylor Brown shares the same birthday as his great-grandfather, and states he's always felt a special connection to him--especially since his grandmother liked to remind this author of that fact. I can see how closely the selfless and helpful protagonist Doctor Domit Muhanna and his supportive and loving wife Buddeea, with their several daughters' and the youngest son Musa resemble this author's lineage. I loved and admired all of his characters except the King Coal company and corrupt sheriff and the state troopers who were all murderers and were against the miners forming a Labor Union. Their efforts to stop these miners from earning a fair wage, their evictions of the miners putting them out on the street was brutal and seemed unconstitutional. It's easy to grasp why the miners banded together after all the great injustices done to them culminating from corrupt officials that account for what happened on Blair Mountain. Which is largely forgotten except by the people of Appalachia. Hopefully the readers of this gorgeous historical fiction called, "Rednecks," will honor the miners who lost their lives and their cause will not be in vain, but will gain their due recognition.

I want to share the Prologue:

"They work beneath the pale flames of carbide headlamps. Some swing picks into the face, hewing
the coal straight from the seam, while others shovel the black rubble into iron carts. All crouch like
boxers in this shoulder high chamber, which they call a room. They work dark to dark in this mine,
descending before daylight touches the deep, coal-camp hollers where they live and surfacing ten
hours later, soot-faced as chimney sweeps, the last glow of dusk to greet them.
The mine cars are drawn to the surface by mules born underground, animals who only know
darkness, like some cave species, pulling their trains of coal through swinging trapdoors attended by
ten-year-old boys who curse and sweet-talk them in turn. Boys they kick into the wall when
they like. All breathe a black dust, explosive, which swirls through the cramped, yellowy light. The
pickers and shovelers work with red bandannas knotted over their faces, the cotton black-fogged
over their noses and mouths.
Perhaps it's an inadvertent spark from a miner's pick, striking an unseen shard of flint. Perhaps a
pocket of methane has just been inhaled from the strata, freed after eons. The mountain erupts. A
train of fire bores through the tunnels and shafts and rooms. Men are buried alive, boys buried
underground. A great plume of ash blows from the mouth of the mine and rolls skyward, seen for
miles.
The morning papers will read 21 KILLED IN MINE BLAST. The country will hardly register the news.
Such headlines are frequent, far removed from the reading public, like earthquakes or eruptions on
far sides of the world.
Outside the drift mouth, two miners lie on their bellies, heaving, their hands atop their heads. They
look at each other. Red-eyed, dizzied, ears a-whine. The world blows around them, dust and smoke
and red meteors of coal. Everything clad in a pale of ash, thick and wooly. Tonight the coal camp
will wail with death.
One raises his head. 'Told you she'd blow, ain't I? This wouldn't never happen at no Union mine.
We'd have them vent shafts we asked for.'
The other miner looks over his shoulder, eyes wild, as if the Devil might be standing behind them,
marking their words. He hisses through his teeth: 'Hush with that talk, man. You're like to get us
kilt.'

Taylor Brown you have created a true masterpiece. You've done your great grandfather proud by creating such a warm, lovable and caring physician, along with both his wife and children drawing inspiration with your sense of connection to your own family. I couldn't have loved this historical fiction novel more, which is based on a forgotten piece of history. I will never forget what those miners' went through and you've honored them by creating the wonderful Big Frank Hugham, his grandmother, and his fellow miners. This is the best novel that I've read in the past few years. I have read and loved all of Taylor Brown's body of work, but this is my new favorite of all time. I know that other popular male novelists draw inspiration from Taylor Brown. I highly, highly recommend this to everyone. This will have a great audience with both women and men. I will be thinking about this story for a very long time. I can't wait to get the physical hardcover copy for my collection of the best of the best. I LOVED IT! Five Plus Sparking Stars!

Here is a link to my review by Taylor Brown's last historical fiction novel called, "Wingwalkers." I'm sorry but the Good Reads Website won't allow me to post this link. It must be a glitch.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4513221672

Publication Date: May 14, 2024! This is my oldest son's Birthday! No Wonder I feel deeply connected to this Terrifically well written novel. I'll be celebrating on this day, also!

Thank you to Net Galley, Taylor Brown and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my fantastic eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#Rednecks #TaylorBrown #StMartinsPress #NetGalley