The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

Explore the untold stories of the Great American Dust Bowl. A gripping narrative by Timothy Egan. This National Book Award–winning story, a tour de force of historical reportage, rescues an iconic chapter of American history—the Dust Bowl that terrorized the High Plains in the darkest years of the Depression—from the shadows. Following a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, Egan tells of their desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black dust blizzards, crop failure, and the death of loved ones. Brilliantly capturing the terrifying drama of catastrophe, Egan does equal justice to the human characters who become his heroes, “the stoic, long-suffering men and women whose lives he opens up with urgency and respect” (New York Times). In an era that promises ever-greater natural disasters, The Worst Hard Time is “arguably the best nonfiction book yet” (Austin Statesman Journal) on the greatest environmental disaster ever to be visited upon our land and a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of trifling with nature. Publisher ‎Mariner Books Classics; Illustrated edition (September 1, 2006) Language ‎English Paperback ‎352 pages ISBN-10 ‎0618773479 ISBN-13 ‎978-0618773473 Reading age ‎14 years and up Item Weight ‎12.8 ounces Dimensions ‎5.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches