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    The Women of the Copper Country
    The Women of the Copper Country
    The Women of the Copper Country
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Women of the Copper Country

    Written by Mary Doria Russell

    Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    From the bestselling and award-winning author of The Sparrow comes “historical fiction that feels uncomfortably relevant today” (Kirkus Reviews) about “America’s Joan of Arc”—the courageous woman who started a rebellion by leading a strike against the largest copper mining company in the world.

    In July 1913, twenty-five-year-old Annie Clements has seen enough of the world to know that it’s unfair. She’s spent her whole life in the mining town of Calumet, Michigan, where men risk their lives for meager salaries—and have barely enough to put food on the table for their families. The women labor in the houses of the elite, and send their husbands and sons deep underground each day, dreading the fateful call of the company man telling them their loved ones aren’t coming home. So, when Annie decides to stand up for the entire town of Calumet, nearly everyone believes she may have taken on more than she is prepared to handle.

    Yet as Annie struggles to improve the future of her town, her husband becomes increasingly frustrated with her growing independence. She faces the threat of prison while also discovering a forbidden love. On her fierce quest for justice, Annie will see just how much she is willing to sacrifice for the families of Calumet.

    From one of the most versatile writers in contemporary fiction, this novel is an authentic and moving historical portrait of the lives of the crucial men and women of the early labor movement “with an important message that will resonate with contemporary readers” (Booklist).
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateAug 6, 2019
    ISBN9781508295679
    Author

    Mary Doria Russell

    Widely praised for her meticulous research, fine prose, and compelling narrative drive, Mary Doria Russell is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Sparrow, Children of God, A Thread of Grace, Dreamers of the Day, Doc, and Epitaph. Dr. Russell holds a PhD in biological anthropology. She lives in Lyndhurst, Ohio.

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    Reviews for The Women of the Copper Country

    4.5/5

    245 ratings47 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Gave me an interesting historical perspective of Michigan and copper mining in 1913.
      Characters were very interesting and true to times. Made me think about my grandfather who was an immigrant coal miner for most of his life.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Don’t let the topic of this book turn you away from it. It’s not a dry tale of labor negotiations and coal miners. Russell is the kind of story teller that really brings a world to life whether that world is the palatial mansion of the president of the mine company or the cold, dark depths of a copper mine.The book is based on the life of a real person Annie Clements. a labor activist and president of the local Women’s Auxiliary No. 15 of the Western Federation of Miners. She was quite a firebrand for her day and I’m now quite interested in learning more about her. I love when a book introduces me to someone in history and makes me want to learn more.The men of Calumet go down into the mines for long dark hours for little pay. Their wages go to company housing and to paying for commodities at the company store. They barely have time to see their families. The union comes offering the possibility of better working conditions and hours. They strike with the women offering their support.Annie and her strong personality drive this story and she is a fascinating woman. She was truly ahead of her time. The book is focused on her but does explore the issues of the mine’s control of almost every aspect of its workers lives. Plus the coming automation that would soon take jobs away. It was a time of growing union growth and strength with horrifying push back from industry – often in ways that were illegal but overlooked as the mine owners controlled the local and in some cases the state governments.I was fascinated with this story. Ms. Russell’s writing kept me turning the pages even though I knew a bit of union history and was aware of what might be the outcome. I’m trying to be circumspect so as to not give away the story for anyone who doesn’t know what might have happened. It is indeed a somewhat obscure topic for a book but this is definitely a book that will keep your interest and one worth reading.
    • 5/5
      A book about real life just the way it was. Was nice to see that the heroine had faults yet didnt let them stand in her way of dealing with goal. This book shows us that even little wins are important and there is always someone to point a finger of blame when possible. My grandfather was an orphan and worked the coal mines before the unions. He talked of these things when I was young. He always said that there were times when just going to and from the mines were as dangerous as going down in them. I liked the slow rhythm of the narrator.
    • 4/5
      Very well written. I learned a lot about work conditions for miners and about their families' lives. Details many injustices and actual tragic events.
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story of the courage and tenacity of strong women.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful character development. I feel I got to know most of the people. Very well read by the narrator. I would like to say more about the story itself, but do not want to spoil it for anyone. I appreciate the author separating fact from fiction in her note at the end if the book. I will look for other books by this author. This would a great book for a book club!
    • 4/5
      A good read good characters heartbreaks sadness and grieve i hate how the men treat the women i wish big Annie had a bigger back bone not only to carry a big flag
    • 5/5
      Excellent book. Mary Doria Russell is a treasure! The narrator was the icing on an already scrumptious cake.
    • 4/5
      Overall I enjoyed this novel because it introduced me to a time, place, and event that I was completely unfamiliar with. I enjoyed the character development the most—particularly that of Ava. The narration was excellent given the vast array of characters. At times, I felt bogged down in some of the narrative, but it was necessary for context.
    • 5/5
      The in-depth history in the book is very profound and interesting!??
    • 4/5
      The descriptions of the miners’ lives made a very clear picture. Too bad no one told the reader of the audio book how to pronounce “pasty, Houghton, and Mackinac!”
    • 3/5
      Historical fiction about a copper miners’ strike in Calumet, Michigan in 1913, led by Annie Klobuchar Clements (the anglicized form of Clemenc). Mining conditions at the time were deplorable. Men were dying regularly in the mines, and surviving families evicted from their company-owned homes. This book relates the story of the strike and a brave woman who stepped into a leadership role at a time when many women were not even entitled to vote.

      This book is a narrative of multiple tragedies. It is well-written, and the primary characters are believable. The setting and times are vividly portrayed, especially the harshness of life for the workers and their families. Notable women of the labor movement make an appearance, such as Mother Jones, Ella Bloor, and Jane Addams. I enjoyed the first three-fourths of this book but felt it went off-target near the finish with a rather unsatisfying ending. It is based on real events and I was interested to read the author’s afterward where she provides information on what parts are based on facts. Overall, I thought it was worthwhile and I gained additional knowledge about the history of U.S. labor activism.

      I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher via NetGalley in return for a candid review. This book is scheduled to be published on August 6, 2019.
    • 4/5
      Oh, my! Before planning an upcoming trip to the Upper Peninsula, I was totally unaware that this was copper mining territory, and still had no clue about the Strike of 1913. This is well-written novel based on the strike and the role of women in that strike.The beginning of the book was a little slow to draw this reader in, but once into the story, it was a captivating page-turner and I'm very glad I read it prior to our trip to that region.
    • 5/5
      Novelization of the efforts to unionize the copper miners in Calumet, Michigan in the early 20th century with special emphasis upon the women in the area. Includes the Italian Hall Disaster and real-life organizer Annie Clements (Clemenc) Well-written and thought-provoking with many applications for today, it is weakest when the author conjures up personal feelings, romance, and relationships. With so many nonfiction/fiction hybrids, this reader was left wondering where the truth and ended and began. I wish Russell had written a nonfiction book and included photographs.
    • 5/5
      Oh what a great book. The poor get poorer and the rich get richer. you know why? Read this book, it is an excellent account of money over whelming the need to see the humanity in all of us. A novel based on fact, but it brings to life the philosophies that stand between us. Oh yeah. Mary Doria Russell is the greatest writer I have ever encountered in all my years of reading.
    • 3/5
      This should be compelling but I was not compelled. A minners' strike in early 20th century Michigan upper peninsula is a difficult setting to sell and this retelling focuses too much on one woman and personal issues but not convincingly. The growth arc of the young woman Eva gets more interesting as the book goes on,
    • 4/5
      Historical fiction about Anna Klobuchar Clements and the 1913 miners strike in Calumet, Michigan. Russell has done a great job of researching the historical issues that created that event. It is a good example of the brutal resistance to organized labor in the early 20th century. Several historical figures are introduced. It was fun to look some of them up in Wikipedia as they came up in the story.I highly recommend this one.
    • 5/5
      Yep, five stars for this wonderful historical novel. My commitment has been that any book that brings tears to my eyes gets five stars. It's not scientific but it reflects how special and rare it is for a book to move me that deeply. Set in Calumet, Michigan, in 1913, this is a well-researched fictionalized account of the copper miners strike, the Christmas Eve Italian Hall disaster, and the role women played in the labor fights of the first half of the 20th century. It is also a poignant illustration of the tension that continues to this day between those who would see the vast wealth of our nation sit in a very few pockets and those who would see the fruits of our innovation and labor distributed more equitable among those who contribute. The cold-hearted smugness of mine manager James MacNaughton seems, as Ms. Russell herself notes, almost overly dramatic. But it is accurate and consistent with the historical records. And, to my mind, that kind of self-righteous elitism is really not so very rare. Almost unbelievable, but common. Still, the novel is a perfect blend of realism and optimism, romance and tragedy. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      This story tore at my heart.
    • 4/5
      A very well researched piece of historical fiction set in the upper peninsula of Michigan, and populated with strong female characters, this is an excellent read. Copper mining, union organization, the role of women, and the tragic Italian Hall tragedy are just a few reasons to read this book. The story inspired thoughtfulness about the courage and cost of standing up for one's beliefs.
    • 5/5
      Mary Doria Russell's latest is a story that sneaks up on you, like an earthquake where there's almost no warning of what's to come. Like some of her other works, this one is grounded in true historical accounts of the lives of immigrant copper miners in Michigan's upper peninsula at the start of the 20th century.
    • 5/5
      A tragic part of history is brought to life in this vividly detailed historical novel. Written from multiple points of view, this page turner covers the events that unfolded in Michigan's small Upper Peninsula town of Calumet resulting in the copper strike and the heartbreaking aftermath.The author used a well researched, fact based framework to build the fascinating and poignant story of Anna Clemenc (Clements) and the people of Calumet during the U.S. labor movement era. Much of which, sadly, is still relevant today.The copy I read included author's notes and a Q&A section, which was as interesting as the story itself. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this portion of history and/or women's history.
    • 5/5
      1913 struggle of a labor union of copper miners in Michigan to win for themselves better pay and better working conditions. The nine-month strike was led by Annie Clements and wives of the miners. Gave me a feel of what those people went through. I appreciate all the more the working conditions of today. The owner of the copper mine was a real Dickensian villain; the author stated in he afterword he was as horrible in real life as he is in this novel. Very well written, with sympathetic characters.Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY Is another of Mary Doria Russell’s excellent books of historical fiction. She keeps the story not only engaging but historically accurate, taking into account that a few characters are composites or complete fiction to show more of the nonfiction.The Copper Country of the book’s title is Calumet, a copper-mining town in Michigan‘s Upper Peninsula. But it isn’t really a town. It is really an area consisting not only of the mines but also 40,000 residents, homes, a fine business district, library, medical facilities, etc. It is owned entirely by the mining company, Calumet & Hecla, the employer of most of the men in Calumet.During 1913 and 1914, Annie Clements organizes and leads the women of Copper Country whose husbands are members of the Western Federation of Miners union. She was even arrested during one prolonged strike that became violent when C & H sent in their strike breakers. She was also a survivor of a fire in Copper Country that killed 73 people, mostly children.James MacNaughton is the general manager of C & H. He is so obnoxious and evil he seems to be a fictional character to make Annie and her women seem all the more saintly. But he really was that awful, according to Russell.Russell introduces us to more characters, of course. In so doing, she shows us several different perspectives on life in Copper Country. A review cannot do this book justice. Read it. You will learn so much, and you’ll enjoy doing it.I am anxious to hear Russell speak about this. Some parts of the book seem almost unbelievable, and I’d love to ask her about them.I had an event with her all arranged at my library. Then the pandemic and the lockdown preempted that. Michigan’s governor has started to open things up but not libraries yet. So we’ll see if and when we can rearrange it. Fingers crossed
    • 5/5
      Another great book by one of my very favorite authors, Mary Doria Russell!If you're looking for a good book to read these days, I highly recommend The Women of the Copper Country.
    • 4/5
      This fictional account of the 1913 strike against the Michigan copper mining giant C&H Mining, is told primarily from the point of view of "Big Annie" Klobuchar Clements, a woman of great physical presence and a mighty will to improve the lives of the families of Calumet, Michigan. Annie became the icon of the labor movement for a time, through photographs and articles featuring her carrying a huge American flag at the front of parade after parade of striking miners and their families, despite the fact that her own husband was one of a fairly large contingent of miners who did not approve of the work stoppage. This is a grand tale, featuring Mother Jones and other strong women of the era, as well as the nastiest coldest villain since Ebenezer Scrooge, the (as far as I can tell) entirely fictional James MacNaughton, owner of everything. The detail of life in the paternalistic society of industrial America at its most unbridled is vivid and unnerving. In the book, as in history, the ending is sad beyond belief, but Russell added a couple twists of poetic justice to soften it a bit. As totally engrossing as every other novel of hers that I have read. Russell gives us an author's note at the end, explaining where she has taken the most liberty with the historical record.
    • 4/5
      In the pre- World War I era, Michigan’s Calumet Copper Mines were a literal hell hole. An average of one man a week died; others each week were horribly maimed. Of course, there was no recompense from the mining companies for the killed or injured. Day to day conditions were also frightful – long days, low pay, very young boys putting in twelve hour shifts.The times were changing, and unions and strikes had been successful at other mines. But the unions tried to carefully plan their strikes in a way that would help ensure their success.One day, however, in Calumet, there was one death too many. The women of Calumet, led by "Big Annie" Klobuchar Clements formed the auxiliary of the Western Federation of Miners and compelled their men to immediately strike.The stories of strikes and strikebreaking in the US are ugly – and this one is the same.However, this one focuses on the women behind the striking men. Famous women leaders such as Mother Jones and Ella Reeve Bloor briefly step in to help. But the true force behind the men were Annie and the everyday wives and mothers, as they marched, kept the men strong, raised gardens and children and opened clothing swaps. Big Annie was a true force of nature – and we see her determination and love. There is a horrendous incident near the end of the book. I must have subconsciously remembered this incident or read a review – because I read this book with trepidation, fearful that something terrible would happen. And it did.It takes some strength to read this one. But I learned quite a bit in this historical novel – not the least of which is that what seems like utter doom and failure can be the seeds of the progress you are seeking.
    • 1/5
      There was a story there but the writing was SO dry. I just couldn't keep my focus.
    • 5/5
      Mary Doria Russell's fictional story of Michigan's Copper Country strike that took place over nine months in 1913 - 1914. It was led by Annie Clements, the wife of a minor, who became known as the Joan of Arc of America. The Women of the Copper Country is mainly her story but as the title suggests, it is the story of all the women. They led unbelievably difficult lives, often beaten by their alcoholic husbands and thrown out of their company homes with their children when those husbands died in the mines. But, they managed to make something out of nothing, sharing whatever they had and often going hungry themselves. Russell's prose is rich with details, pulling us into miners' shacks and millionaires' mansions as she recreates this pivotal time in labor history. It is difficult sometimes for us to realize just how courageous these early protesters were to suggest that they had rights. Russell depicts the coldness of the bosses and upper class towards the workers, their belief in their superiority by reason of birth, and the casual violence they dispense to protect their profits. Russell stays close to the historical events while providing information about larger history and personalities related to labor strikes. Mother Jones makes an appearance along with Ella Reeve Bloor. And, Clements' maiden name was Klobuchar!
    • 4/5
      An excellent book by one of today’s best novelists. Russell paints an indelible picture of life in the copper mines of upper Michigan and of a strike by copper miners pre-1920. The story is powerful and moving - evenly paced and historically significant- this is Mary Doria Russell at her best. If you have not read every one of her novels on very diverse subjects, you are missing out on a “master”.