Rednecks: A Novel By Taylor Brown

Rednecks is a tour de force historical novel dramatizing the 1920-1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars—from the Matewan Massacre to the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War. In this riveting tale, an army of 10,000 multi-ethnic coal miners faces off against mine owners, state militia, and the U.S. government, with over a million rounds fired and bombs dropped on Appalachia. Here, the term “redneck” finds an unexpected origin story.

Award-winning novelist Taylor Brown brings to life America’s buried history of rebellion against oppression. Amid the coal companies' violence and intimidation, "Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor inspired by Brown’s great-grandfather, toils in the mining camps’ blood and injustice. Frank Hugham, a Black WWI veteran, and coal miner, leads a miners' revolt with fellow veterans, while Doc Moo risks his life to treat the sick and wounded. Frank's grandmother, Beulah, battles to save her home and grandson. Real-life figures burn bright among the hills: fiery labor organizer Mother Jones, "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," struggles to rally the miners, while sharp-shooting police chief "Smilin" Sid Hatfield stands up to coal company "gun thugs," becoming a folk hero.

Rednecks is a propulsive, character-driven tale of friendship, heroism, and the power of community against all odds. It vividly reminds us of the hard-won origins of today’s unions, blending historical drama with a contemporary resonance that underscores the enduring struggle for justice. 📚❤️