{"product_id":"the-cigar-factory-a-novel-of-charleston-story-river-books","title":"The Cigar Factory: A Novel of Charleston (Story River Books)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The sun leaned for down bringing shade to the waterfront \" begins Michele Moores entrancing debut novel  harkening back to an era when the legendary fishermen of Charlestons Mosquito Fleet rowed miles offshore for their daily catch. With evocative dialect and remarkable prose  The Cigar Factory tells the story of two entwined families  both devout Catholics--the white McGonegals and the African American Ravenels--in the storied port city of Charleston  South Carolina  during the World Wars. Moores novel follows the parallel lives of family matriarchs working on segregated floors of the massive Charleston cigar factory  where white and black workers remain divided and misinformed about the duties and treatment received by each other. Cassie McGonegal and herniece Brigid work upstairs in the factory rolling cigars by hand. Meliah Amey Ravenel works in the basement  where she stems the tobacco. While both white and black workers suffer in the harsh working conditions of the factory and both endure the sexual harassment of the foremen  segregation keeps them from recognizing their common plight until the Tobacco Workers Strike of 1945. Through the experience of a brutal picket line  the two women come to realize how much they stand to gain by joining forces  creating a powerful moment in labor history that gives rise to the Civil Rights anthem  \"We Shall Overcome.\" Moores extensive historical research included interviews with her own family members who worked at the cigar factory  adding a layer of nuance and authenticity to her empowering story of families and friendships forged through struggle  loss  and redemption. The Cigar Factory includes a foreword by New York Times best-selling author and Story River Books editor at large Pat Conroy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44966560301109,"sku":"ByrdShop_1611175909","price":28.82,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781611175905.jpg?v=1770568284","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-cigar-factory-a-novel-of-charleston-story-river-books","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}