“A spiky polemic.”—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker
“An unflinching indictment of the dominant narrative of American rurality. . . . The perfect primer for readers seeking factual, realistic portrayals of the rural and working class experience.”—Leah Hampton, Los Angeles Times
“A bold refusal to submit to stereotype.” —Kirkus Reviews
Succeeds in providing a richer, more complex view of a much-maligned region. —Publishers Weekly
In 2016, headlines declared Appalachia ground zero for America's forgotten tribe of white working class voters. Journalists flocked to the region to extract sympathetic profiles of families devastated by poverty, abandoned by establishment politics, and eager to consume cheap campaign promises. What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia is a frank assessment of America's recent fascination with the people and problems of the region. The book analyzes trends in contemporary writing on Appalachia, presents a brief history of Appalachia with an eye toward unpacking Appalachian stereotypes, and provides examples of writing, art, and policy created by Appalachians as opposed to for Appalachians. The book offers a must-needed insider's perspective on the region.
Elizabeth Catte is a writer and historian from East Tennessee. She holds a PhD in public history from Middle Tennessee State University and is the co-owner of Passel, a historical consulting and development company.
