Shogan, Robert. The Battle of Blair Mountain; the story of America's largest labor uprising.

SHOGAN, Robert. The battle of Blair Mountain; the story of America's largest labor uprising. Basic Books. 269p. illus. notes. bibliog. index. c2004. 0-465-07773-0. $16.95. A The divide between the "haves" and the "have-nots" was immensely greater in the mid-19th century than it is now, and too many of the latter were stuck fast below a very gritty poverty line. The mass effort to elevate laborers into something approximating the middle class began in the country's coalfields, auto factories, and steel mills, and the struggle furnished some of the most dramatic moments in its history.

One such instance was the uprising of West Virginia coal miners against the mine owners in 1921. Far from being just an exciting historical episode, it was probably (with the exception of the Civil War) the greatest challenge to the nation's political stability since the Whisky Rebellion. The more-or-less spontaneous disorder in the mountains was led and encouraged by a variety of leaders, and it snowballed into the largest labor confrontation of the era. Ten thousand workers took up their deer rifles and hunting shotguns and marched against the mining establishment and its allies within a compliant state government, calling for better wages and other benefits that seem completely unexceptional today. Pitched skirmishes (the author calls them battles) were fought, and gunfire echoed from the ridges. In the midst of it all, the desperate men were supported by an amazing array of spontaneous ad hoc support services. The whole affair ended only after the Federal government sent in forces.

Author Shogan is an experienced political writer who really gets into the social issues involved, and especially into the nuts and bolts of who did what, and why. The entire book is devoted to this one rebellion, which allows him to delve into the most minute details. The result is solidly documented history that reads well, but may prove somewhat tedious to all but the most motivated secondary student. Those who persist, though, will be in for an unforgettable adventure.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

Raymond Puffer, Ph.D., Historian, Edwards AFB, Lancaster, CA