Fate Moreland’s Widow    by John Lane Order:  USA  Can Mercer University Press, 2021 (2021)      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Union activists are trying to organize cotton mill workers in South Carolina in 1935. The mill's owner, a man who inherited his position from his grandfather and father, enjoys his entitlement but fails to show much competence or get useful help from his family, according to his clerk, Ben. Ben tells us the story from his front porch years later. Mixed in with the tension the unionists' cause is a murder charge brought against the owner for carelessly using his boat and causing the death of three people. The workers in the small town and beyond are definitely riled up, and young Ben, whose roots are with them but whose salary comes from the owner, is a reluctant participant in the action to save his boss. This very interesting story depicts the hard life of those who had no other choice but to seek work in the mill. Living off the land was not an option - it was not fertile enough for families to make money from their efforts. Through Ben's narration we view the pivotal scenes in wonderful detail, meet characters who ring true (except for maybe the widow) and come to see flaws in both workers and owner, which lends an unexpected ambiguity to all. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews