Gene McTiernan will discuss his historical novel about coal mining in Scranton, PA and the Great Strike of 1902. Patrick O'Neil begins work as a breaker boy at the Hampton colliery in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1893. He is the son of an Irish immigrant known simply as "The O'Neil." He expects to follow in his father's footsteps to become an independent miner. As he moves through the various colliery jobs, his path seems certain. After working hours, he learns Irish history and the magical spirit of his ancestors from his father and realizes that this same "green blood" flows through him. His job teaches him the difficulty of mine labor and the brutality of the coal barons. Along the way, he finds friendship, laughter, and his true love. As the Great Anthracite Strike of 1902 begins, he finds his destiny changes. He witnesses firsthand the human spirit in his fellow laborers and becomes the leader of the unionization effort in Scranton.
