Patchtown: Life in Eckley Miners' Village 1860 - 1920 Paperback – 27 Sept. 2011

This book strikes me as very topical to what is going on in the political theatre today. Well written account of the grim lives people led back in the days before the social safety net and unions provided protection and improved working conditions for the average person, a good lesson and warning to those who seek abolition or roll back of medicaid, social security ,unions, etc .

The author does not romanticize the stories, unlike Hollywood where everything has a happy ending. She clearly portrays everyday hardships and the people who lived them. I would have liked it to have been a bit longer and more in detail. Other than that I believe she should continue writing in this genre.