Introduction: Harlan County, 1964-2007: A love story
Chapter 1: The Bear and the Sycamore Tree
Chapter 2: Of Hardship and Love
Chapter 3: Wars and Peace
Chapter 4: These Signs Shall Follow Them
Chapter 5: Flush Times and Rough Times
Chapter 6: A Space of Their Own
Chapter 7: Miner's Life
Chapter 8: Identities
Chapter 9: No Neutrals there
Chapter 10: God, Guns, and Guts
Chapter 11: Harlan on Our Minds
Chapter 12: Exodus
Chapter 13: The Other America
Chapter 14: Democracy and the Mines
Chapter 15: Staying Alive
People I Owe
Notes
The Narrators
Index
Alessandro Portelli is Professor of American Literature at the
University of Rome-La Sapienza. He is the author of The Death of
Luigi Trastulli: Form and Meaning in Oral History; The Text and the
Voice: Speaking, Writing, and Democracy in American Literature; The
Battle of Valle Giulia: Oral History and the Art of Dialogue; and
The Order Has Already Been Carried Out: History, Memory and Meaning
of a Nazi Massacre in
Rome, which won Italy's prestigious Viareggio Book Prize.
"They Say in Harlan County is a multi-vocal exploration of three
centuries of Harlan County history: foundation narratives of
eighteenth century conquest and pioneer settlement through tales of
the Civil War and its aftermath of industrialization, vivid
recollections of racial violence and labor struggles, stories of
the mid-twentieth century devastation of the region by
strip-mining, outmigration, the War on Poverty, the corruption of
the United Mine
Worker leadership, and the struggle over compensation for black
lung."--Western Folklore
"They Say in Harlan County is a stunningly effective, even
beautiful book. Its interpretations reinforce tropes that have
become standard in Appalachian scholarly circles; understanding
Harlan County as a place whose cultural and historical essence is
hardness and struggle will strike readers as familiar."--The
Journal of Southern History
"The book's gestalt is shaped by memory, the individual memories of
narrators and other commentators, and Potelli's deeply informed
efforts to make sense of them. But in a deeply humane final section
he speaks of the power of oral history, of storytelling and
cultural work in general, to heal 'the wounds of the soul' that cut
'deeper than broken backs and broken lungs' They Say in Harlan
County in its rangy, melodious, and insightful 400 plus pages
suggests that this just might be true."--Memory Studies
"Alessandro Portelli is a scholar whose quarter of a century of
listening to the voices of those he asked to speak has resulted in
his truly hearing those voices...For its methodological uniqueness
and rigor, as well as for its heart and soul, Portelli's book
should be considered for required reading at both undergraduate and
graduate levels."-- Rural Sociology
"They Say In Harlan County will stand as an important example of
the craft of the oral historian for a very long time. Through its
pages Portelli makes us aware of the power of oral history to
remind us of our shared humanity, of the agency, pride and dignity
of working class life. In an era obsessed with the acceleration of
culture and of knowledge being conveyed in a limited number of
characters this book stands out as a model of what reflection,
consideration and thought still has to offer in understanding the
human condition."--Oral History
"In this unforgettable book are incredible first hand accounts of
life and death, tradition and progress, love and struggle.
Alessandro Portelli has done a wonderful job of presenting the
stories of the most inspirational and fearless people I have ever
known--the men and women of Harlan County."--Barbara Kopple,
two-time Academy Award-winning director of Harlan County USA and
American Dream
"This work is a real gem; it is much-needed. For well over a
century, this relatively small Appalachian county has been known
across the nation, though seldom in positive ways. Portelli's
skillful questioning brings out valuable outlooks and information
on coal camps, paternalism, the miner's life, early unions, death
underground, black lung disease, Depression times, and the
bloodshed of the 1930s labor wars. The result is a sad, strong,
powerful story of
pathos and joy, of terror and courage, of villains and
heroes."--James C. Klotter, State Historian of Kentucky
"By allowing the people of Harlan County to tell their own stories,
we can hear the hidden story of America. Alessandro Portelli gives
us a deeper understanding of how democracy in America works.
Portelli shows a much more complex, interesting, and tragic reality
than the ideal set out in our pledge for liberty and justice for
all."--Herb E. Smith, filmaker and co-founder of Appalshop
"Rarely since Harry Caudill's 'Night Comes to the Cumberlands' in
the early 1960s has a book so firmly captured the spirit of the
people and their almost hopeless struggle to live in an almost
forgotten land."--The Post and Courier
"Allows the strong people of Harlan to speak--in their own
words--about how they were pitted in strong conflict against
themselves and in struggle against powerful economic and social
forces."--Harlan Daily Enterprise
"They Say in Harlan County is an important book; it is also an
enjoyable read. The range of topics and its accessibility will make
it useful to scholars and classrooms across disciplines, including
history, literature, and folklore...Overall, this book will prove a
model for other historians interested in oral history-based
community studies."--H-Net Reviews
"Effectively navigates meaning throughout this rich work, and many
of the people interviewed prove remarkable storytellers, writers,
artists, and poets...The trust built up between Portelli and his
informants plays a critical role in the overall effectiveness of
these interviews and this book; clearly, the residents hold
Alessandro Portelli in high regard, revealing incredibly personal
details and cultural information. Portelli returns the favor in
the
publication of this masterful book."--Journal of Folklore
Research
"A revelation."--Gerard Stropnicky, co-editor of Letters to the
Editor: Two Hundred Years in the Life of an American Town
"Beautifully written...This is oral history at its best, told by a
plurality of diverse voices...firsthand accounting, directly from
the people of Harlan County, gives this book both intensity and
purity. Portelli is a master craftsman who has given us a powerful
and profound understanding of the people of Harlan
County."--Business Lexington
"This is a labor of love as well as a work of
scholarship...Portelli's work emphasizes the significance of
selective memory, interpretation, and mythification in creating the
received history of a culture. His rigorous archival work,
supporting his sensitive editing of the interviews, will make They
Say in Harlan County an essential historical and methodological
reference for generations who want to understand how history lives
and
evolves."--Journal of Appalachian Studies
"His research is infused by a deep and loving respect for his
narrators, his writing steeped in a humanity that transcends
academic jargon...[A] major contribution to the field and a
must-read for every oral historian."--Oral History Forum
"A powerful book from a distinguished oral historian that will no
doubt have considerable influence on the fields of oral history and
Appalachian studies."--Journal of American History
"Alessandro Portelli has studied Appalachia from his base at the
University of Rome for decades...Portelli focused his research on
Harlan County and created this impressive book."--Appalachian
Heritage
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