Irreverent History

West Virginia is what happens when a group of mountain counties looks at the rest of their state and says, "Absolutely not."Created during the Civil War through one of the strangest political maneuvers in American history, West Virginia became a land of coal booms, labor wars, moonshine legends, political scandals, environmental battles, and enough stubbornness to survive all of them.In this fast-paced and humorous history, Jordan Blake Carter explores the people, disasters, triumphs, myths, and mistakes that shaped the Mountain State.From Blair Mountain to Mothman, from company towns to country roads, this is the story of a place that America has never quite understood and a people who never cared much what America thought.Perfect for readers who enjoy history with humor, sharp observations, and a healthy skepticism of politicians, corporations, and anyone claiming to have all the answers.