West Virginia: A History

In his clear, eminently readable style, Williams organizes the tangled strands of West Virginias past around a few dramatic events--the battle of Point Pleasant, John Browns insurrection in Harpers Ferry, the Paint Creek labor movement, the Hawks Nest and Buffalo Creek disasters, and more. Williams uses these pivotal events as introductions to the larger issues of statehood, Civil War, unionism, and industrialization. Along the way, Williams conveys a true feel for the lives of common West Virginians, the personalities of the states memorable characters, and the powerful influence of the land itself on its own history.