THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY

Cassandra Campbell narrates Russell's historical novel, which holds a mirror up to current affairs. Life is hard for everyone in Michigan's copper country in the early twentieth century; after yet another funeral, Annie Clements decides that enough is enough and organizes a strike. While Campbell's delivery can occasionally be a little flat, she does a good job with the various accents of the Calumet miners and townsfolk. Where Campbell especially shines is in her portrayal of Annie, who is ground down over the nine brutal months of the 1913-14 strike. Campbell illuminates her decline from an eager, idealistic young woman to a resigned, slightly bitter woman who is simply too exhausted to continue. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2020]