A Hard Journey

by James J. Lorence

"A Hard Journey is the first comprehensive biography of Don West, poet, ordained Congregationalist minister, labor organizer, educator, leftist activist, and one of the most important literary and political figures in the southern Appalachians during the middle years of the twentieth century. Motivated by radical and religious convictions and driven by a vision of an open, democratic, and nonracist society, West was also a passionate advocate for the region's traditional values." "James J. Lorence's biography balances West's literary work with political and educational activities. Uncovering the ethical and religious roots of West's militant antifascism, Lorence uses previously unexamined sources to explore his early involvement in organizing miners and other workers for the Socialist and Communist Parties during the 1930s. In detailing West's participation in the Communist Party and founding role in the Highlander Folk School and other training grounds for radically cooperative, democ