During the past four decades scholars have completely reinterpreted Appalachian history and culture. Gone are the assumptions of a static and homogeneous region-a product of colonial settlers, isolated by the mountainous terrain, and unchanged by the forces of modernization at work in the rest of the nation. Few scholars have had as much impact in unraveling these stereotypes and rewriting the history of twentieth-century Appalachia as Ronald L. Lewis. Through his own work and from the students he mentored, Lewis has had an enormous effect on the field of Appalachian studies. Their scholarship has helped reconceptualize Appalachian culture by investigating political and economic power and the role of social actors and social movements in shaping the region's history. Culture, Class, and Politics in Modern Appalachia takes stock of the field of Appalachian studies as it explores issues still at the center of its scholarship: culture, industrialization, the labor movement, and twentieth-century economic and political failure and their social impact. This new generation of scholars continues the work of Appalachian studies' pioneers, exploring the diversity and complexity of the region and its people.

Labor migrations from around the world transformed the region during its critical period of economic growth. Collective struggles over occupational health and safety, the environment, and civil rights challenged longstanding stereotypes. Investigations of political and economic power and the role of social actors and social movements in Appalachian history add to foundational work that demonstrates a dynamic and diverse region. Book jacket.