The Price of Bread and Shoes: A Historical Fiction Novel
When nineteen-year-old Alafair Sizemore Slone journeys to Chemame Creek, West Virginia to join her husband, Travis, in the coal camp where he's working, she carries with her a history of loss and the hope of a secure future. She knows that making a home in a coal camp will be difficult and different from life on her family's farm in Washington County, Virginia; but she's certain that she and Travis are equal to any challenge that will come their way.
Travis, however, has changed during the four weeks they've been apart. He goes out after supper and stays out late. He no longer talks about buying a small farm of their own, preferring to spend money as quickly as he earns it. When a mine accident leaves Travis injured with no income and no savings, Alafair is coerced into a decision that will affect her life, her marriage, and the lives of other women in Chemame Creek forever.
Based upon oral histories from women who lived in West Virginia's coal camps during the 1920s and their descendants, The Price of Bread and Shoes examines a controversial piece of West Virginia history through the lens of fiction.
Historical Fiction Rooted in Authentic Voices
This novel draws from real oral histories collected from women who experienced life in West Virginia coal mining communities during the 1920s. The narrative captures the authentic struggles, resilience, and difficult choices faced by women in Appalachian coal camps during this transformative period in American labor history.
About This Edition
Published by Feisty Molly Press, this hardcover edition features compelling storytelling that brings to life a controversial and often overlooked chapter of West Virginia's coal mining heritage. Author Lonormi Manuel crafts a narrative that honors the experiences of working-class women while exploring themes of marriage, economic hardship, and community in 1920s Appalachia.
Ideal for Book Clubs and Historical Fiction Readers
This novel offers rich material for discussion about gender roles, economic pressures in mining communities, and the social dynamics of early 20th-century Appalachia. The story's basis in oral history provides authentic insight into a specific time and place in American regional history.
