Mingo

by W. Jeff Barnes

2022 READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK CONTEST GOLD MEDAL WINNER FOR SOUTHERN FICTION

OVER 100 5-STAR REVIEWS

Set against the backdrop of coal-rich, hard-scrabble West Virginia and "civilized," segregated Virginia, Mingo reveals the deep divide between corporate might and those seeking a fair wage for an honest day's work. The novel plumbs the depths of brotherly love, betrayal, and the power of reconciliation amidst the deadly struggle to unionize America's coalfields.
The Matney brothers are tragically fated to divergent fourteen-year-old Bascom to the coal mines with his father, and younger Durwood to the care of distant family in far-off Richmond. Shaped by circumstances and time, the brothers form deeply held, conflicting beliefs about the world and their places in it.
Bascom is resolved to a life underground but dreams of escape and a reunion with his brother; Durwood thrives in a life cushioned by wealth but disciplined by the promise of returning home as soon as things "settle down."
Things rapidly unsettle in Mingo. The Matney brothers find themselves separated by more than the Appalachian Mountains when Mother Jones, "the most dangerous woman in America," begins stirring up the coalfields with ideas about the collective good. They become embattled in the West Virginia Coal Wars and the largest armed uprising since the Civil War, setting coal miners and their families against the notorious Baldwin-Felts detectives, pitting brother against brother. Thoughtfully researched, beautifully written, and culminating in the historic Battle of Blair Mountain in the summer of 1921, Mingo delivers unforgettable characters while exploring themes of class struggle and racial division that continue to roil America.

376 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2021

About the author

JEFF Barnes was born and raised in Tazewell, Virginia, in the heart of Virginia's coalfields. "Mingo" was inspired by his childhood fascination with the Battle of Matewan and the years his father spent mining coal. Jeff graduated from the College of William and Mary with undergraduate and law degrees. He lives and practices law in Richmond, Virginia. "Mingo" is his first novel and it has been awarded the 2022 Gold Medal in Southern Fiction by the Readers' Favorite International Book Contest. For more information, including reviews, podcast interviews, and book discussions, go to www.wjeffbarnes.com.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic debut novel from W. Jeff Barnes!! Through a simultaneously heartwarming and heart-wrenching relationship between two brothers, Barnes educates us on the 20th century mine wars, making Mingo a thorough, well-researched history lesson disguised as an engaging, emotional coming-of-age story. Excited to see what’s next for this author!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book twice already it’s so good! This novel is written so well you can’t help but feel connected to the story. Such a page turner with truly great characters. Highly recommend to historical fiction buffs and everyone else!!

[Kimberly Donahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book to start the year. After moving to West Virginia last year and being familiar with where the story takes place, I’ll admit I was quite unfamiliar with the area’s history. Mingo is a fantastic history lesson with engaging characters and a lot of important plot twists.

[Chris Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Barnes’s debut, historically accurate, novel “Mingo” tells the story of two brothers separated by circumstance and tragedy who clash in the mountains of West Virginia in a bloody battle between coal miners and their corporate masters. Barnes’s crisp, confident writing, stripped down to the essentials like the miners themselves, produces an action-packed, page-turner that will leave the reader exhilarated. Barnes digs deep to produce compelling characters Durwood and Bascom who grow from early life to become men of conviction and fortitude; we readers grow with them and celebrate their victories, big and small, and feel the pain of their losses. Like all great novels, Mingo explores thought-provoking questions of right and wrong, love and loyalty through its main characters. Be prepared to laugh, weep and love this book. We can only hope that Mr. Barnes writes another novel very soon.

[Brad Baskette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in Richmond, but also spending time working for a time throughout southern West Virginia, I felt immediate connections to the story line and subject place. However, I also really learned a lot about the coal labor fights through the first two decades of the 21st century. I really enjoyed this book. A page turner for sure.

[John R. Partridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

16 Tons and what do you get?

The song from the 60’s resonates in this well crafted and gripping saga of an industry, a time, a unique culture and the conflicting social and economic forces that led to pitched shooting and legal battles,

The principal characters, well fleshed out, learn that no matter how flat your pancake, there are always two sides

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read! Whether it's the nostalgia of being a West Virginian, the memories it brings back from my dad and gramps being coal miners or the outstanding storytelling skills of the author, this book kept me rapt from the first page!
Set in the coal fields of WV in the early 1900's, Bascom and Durwood fight not only the conflict of the coal wars, but also the inner conflict of being on opposing sides of the battle.
The author did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life and showing the true essence of selfless love.
There are so many lessons to be learned in this story as well as a lot of history that I was thrilled to discover.
This is a must read and I can't wait to see what this up-and-coming author brings next!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A free book from Kindle Unlimited! I loved it! I wish I read it sooner.

I am fascinated with the mining wars in West Virginia. THis book follows two brothers who were separated on the day of their mother's funeral. The younger one is sent to live with his mother's cousin in Richmond; the older brother continues his work in the mines although he is a young teen, The lives of the two brothers divide and separate them, not only in distance but also in the way in which they view the world.

Please read this book. It is an eye opener, and it is a nearly accurate portrayal of what life was like in the hardscrabble mining communities of the early 20th century.

[Ellen Rennels · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is part of my "learning about Virginia" project and seemed promising as it dealt with the coal miners and the strike of 1918. It delivered very good historical information and I learned a lot about coal mining and the challenges of unionizing. The story line was OK but very slow and cumbersome in the beginning. The writing style is adequate but the pace is so cumbersome for the entire first half of the book; perhaps it needed more editing. So, big plus for the historical background, but almost outweighed by the plodding pace.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Jeff yesterday at a book festival in Charleston West Virginia. Bought his book after chatting with him a while. I could sense his deep passion while interrogating him on the subject matter of the book; a subject I was oblivious to until we spoke. This book read me. The mannerisms of the characters, the dialect, the storyline, they all just come together and take you back in time. Thanks, Jeff.

[Sam Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Really picks up in second half. Becomes page turner with superb drama and suspense combined with ongoing depth of the characters. Once I saw the Dean King and Lee Smith endorsements I knew it would be a great read, and I was not disappointed. Well done!!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully researched, and a wonderful story overall! I was sad to finish and am still thinking about the characters. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is the somewhat truncated dialogue. I look forward to seeing what else this author publishes! Definitely a triumph for a first novel.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic! I could not put it down.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction novel!

[Tracy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating tale about a part of US history I knew little about!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel about the West Virginia coal wars. The haves and the have nots. The toffs in the city and the struggling workers, being taken advantage of. Richmond figures prominently. I knew nothing about this violent time in our country's history.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. Was engaged by the story and also learned so much history along the way!

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because of the setting and time period I really liked this book. Such an interesting period of time and the two brothers were great reflections of the changes in America then. The cadence was a bit off and the book was choppy hence the 3 stars. I felt the strongest part was the middle- if it had carried through, the book would have earned 4 stars from me.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that you can’t put down. Perfect for fans of US history!