First published 2011
In November 1931, Theodore Dreiser joined fellow writers John Dos Passos and Sherwood Anderson to investigate the crisis engulfing Kentucky's coal country. The Dreiser Committee arrived as striking miners faced desperate conditions and competing unions battled for control. The Communist-led National Miners Union challenged the more conservative United Mine Workers of America for membership, transforming class resentment into open warfare. Originally published in 1932, this account captures the harsh living and working conditions that defined miners' lives during the 1930s. The investigation reveals the human cost of America's dependence on coal and the violent struggles that erupted when workers organized for better treatment. This edition includes a new introduction by historian John C. Hennen, providing context for understanding this pivotal moment in labor history and the complex legacy of coal production in America.
Genres: 20th-century, labor, activism, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-events, social-justice
Setting: Kentucky
Period: 1930s
360 pages · Hardcover · Literary Licensing, LLC
Content warnings: violence