The Devil Is Here in These Hills

The Devil Is Here in These Hills chronicles the decades-long struggle between coal miners and mine operators in West Virginia from 1890 to 1933. The book follows the labor conflicts, union organizing efforts, and violent clashes that defined this turbulent period in Appalachian history. The narrative tracks key figures on both sides of the conflict, from union leaders and organizers to coal company owners and their private security forces. Green documents the sequence of strikes, massacres, and legal battles that took place across the coalfields while examining the broader social and economic forces at work. Through extensive research and first-hand accounts, the book reconstructs life in the mining towns, the dangerous working conditions in the mines, and the communities that developed around this extractive industry. The story encompasses both small-scale skirmishes and major confrontations like the Battle of Blair Mountain. This history illuminates enduring questions about labor rights, corporate power, and the human cost of industrial capitalism in America. The book reveals how the struggles in West Virginia's coalfields helped shape modern labor law and union organizing traditions.

Readers describe this as a balanced account of West Virginia's mine wars that brings humanity to both the miners and coal operators. The book provides context that explains how the conflicts developed, while maintaining narrative momentum. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanation of complex labor disputes - Vivid descriptions of mining conditions and daily life - Integration of personal stories with historical events - Neutral presentation of different perspectives Common criticisms: - Too much detail on certain political figures - Occasionally jumps between time periods - Some readers found the large cast of characters hard to follow Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (372 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (156 ratings) Several reviewers noted the book's relevance to current labor issues. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Shows how the struggles of 100 years ago mirror today's fights for worker rights." Multiple readers highlighted Green's research depth while keeping the story accessible to non-academics.

Blood Runs Coal by Adam Hochschild This investigation of the 1922 Herrin Massacre traces the violent conflicts between coal miners and mine owners in Illinois, revealing the broader pattern of labor violence in American industrial history.

Making Their Own Way by Daniel Letwin This examination of coal miners in central Pennsylvania from 1870-1930 uncovers the intersection of class, race, and labor relations during the industrial era.

King Coal by Upton Sinclair This narrative follows a coal mine operator's son who goes undercover as a worker in Colorado's coal mines, exposing the harsh realities of mining life and labor struggles in the early 1900s.

Thunder in the Mountains by Lon Savage This account of the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain documents the largest armed uprising in American labor history, when 10,000 coal miners confronted company forces in West Virginia.

The Battle of Homestead by Paul Krause This analysis of the 1892 Homestead Strike explores the clash between steel workers and Pinkerton agents, illustrating the broader transformation of American industrial relations.

🔹 Author James Green spent over a decade researching the West Virginia mine wars, conducting interviews with miners' descendants and exploring previously untapped archives to bring these overlooked stories to light. 🔹 The Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921 remains the largest armed uprising in American labor history since the Civil War, involving over 10,000 coal miners and resulting in roughly one million rounds of ammunition fired. 🔹 Mother Jones, a key figure in the book, was dubbed "the most dangerous woman in America" for her role in organizing miners. She continued her activism well into her eighties, often being arrested and facing down armed guards. 🔹 Coal companies maintained their own private police forces, known as mine guards or "Baldwin-Felts agents," who could evict families from company homes and enforce company rules with virtually no legal oversight. 🔹 Many of the miners were recent immigrants or former slaves who were paid in "scrip" (company currency) instead of U.S. dollars, forcing them to shop exclusively at company-owned stores with inflated prices.