This book is the second volume in Emily Steiner's "Lilly Of Appalachia" series. I reviewed the first, "Under The Bridge" on this blog on July 30, 2018. These books are self-published through Haines Printing in Northeast, Pennsylvania, but that company does not sell the books. They are available only from Emily Steiner and I will place her contact information at the bottom of this review. Unlike many self-published books, the printing work is well above average and they are high quality volumes which are only $10.00 each directly from the author. The stories follow an Eastern Kentucky Appalachian family as they and their relatives are involved in a coal mine strike and the minister husband of the protagonist, Lilly Burchett Sherman, refuses to join the union based on his interpretation of the New Testament admonitions against violence. The father and brothers of Lilly Sherman are union members and one of them is actually shot and paralyzed late in the work as a result of his union activity. I was lucky enough to read much of this book in manuscript and provided my suggestions about it directly to the author who is a friend of mine. We met shortly after the release of the first book in this series, "Under The Bridge". The writing in this book is more mature from a professional standpoint than in "Under The Bridge". It is well-plotted. The characters are believable, real people, and show the many hours of research which the author has put into the book.
Emily Steiner accepted some of my suggestions about the book and flatly refused to take a position in the book in favor of trade unionism which I strongly support. But, like the characters in the family of the protagonist, Emily Steiner and I have managed to remain friends. Her objections to supporting unionism are based on her interpretation of the Bible and she is devout Mennonite woman living in our local Mennonite community where I also have numerous other friends and sometimes attend events and write about them on this blog. I know many of these people well enough and understand their beliefs to a degree that we can disagree and still remain friends. Emily used one of my suggestions, provided as a copy of the wonderful Jack London description of a scab in a way in which I would never have used it. But I can say that she at least read it and inserted it in the book with a statement of attribution at the end of the book.
The book moves along as the strike deepens in a community set in Harlan County Kentucky. Emily accurately portrays the poverty, destitution, and desperation of the miners and their families and I have to say I like this book. It is simply not the kind of book I would write or wish to write about a union struggle in Appalachia. But, like everything Emily Steiner writes, it is well worth reading. I also suggested to Emily during the completion of the book that she read Davis Grubb's wonderful union struggle book, "The Barefoot Man", which I consider to be the best union novel I have ever read. I have never heard from her that she found a copy and read it. I suspect that if she had she might not have ever discussed it with me due to her religious opposition to some of the language and scenes in that book. But I wish she had read it before she finished this book. I understand fully that having read "The Barefoot Man" would not have changed her perspective on trade unionism. But it would have broadened her understanding of the union struggle and given her a deeper knowledge base about trade unionism, the coal fields in Appalachia of the early twentieth century, and the irreplaceable role trade unionism has played in the social development of both Appalachia and the country as whole.
But, do not allow my difference of opinion with Emily Steiner deter you from reading "Under Fire". It is an excellent book in many ways. It is a fine addition to Emily Steiner's ever growing body of work. She will continue to write and publish novels. She will continue to mature as a professional writer. She will come to establish herself, quietly in her own deeply religious manner, as one of the better young writers in Appalachia. She describes herself in the biographical statement within the book as "...born and raised as a mountain girl in Eastern Kentucky." I agree with that statement. However, any description of Emily Steiner must begin with a clear understanding that she grew up in a religious based subculture in Eastern Kentucky which consciously separates its members from the mainstream to varying degrees and her understanding of the primary culture of Appalachia is affected by that separation. I value her friendship. I value her ability. I value this novel. You will also value this novel regardless of the personal position you take on trade unionism and the way it is deeply ingrained in Central and Southern Appalachia.
"Under Fire" and "Under The Bridge" are both directly available from Emily Steiner at $10.00 each. She will autograph them and mail them to you. You can contact her at Emily Steiner, 155 Memorial Gardens Road, West Liberty, KY 41472. You can call her at 606-495-8090. She will personally answer her phone and actually talk to you. When have you known another published author who would do that?
