A part of Belt's City Anthology Series. "One after another, the writers and artists in this anthology vouch for the burning truth of Youngstown's life, all its filth and hardness and sweetness and soul, until it feels eternal."
The story of Youngstown, Ohio, often begins with iron and steel and ends in decay driven by postindustrial economics, violent mobsters, and corrupt politicians. This collection of essays aims to provide a more complete picture of one of the Rust Belt's former centers of the steel industry through a diverse set of stories told by those who have lived there. Edited by Jacqueline Marino and Will Miller, the book features contributions by Christopher Barzak, Rochelle Hurt, Eric Murphy, Ed O'Neill, Sarah Sepanek, David Skolnick, Sarah Stankorb, C Lee Tressell, Jay Williams, and Andrea Wood. Readers will gain a sense of the past, present, and future of the Mahoning Valley that includes:
- The festa and Baby Doll Dances of Lowellville
- A portrait of the B & O Railroad today
- The Cedars Lounge and the Youngstown punk rock scene of the 1980s and 90s
- The joys of Brier Hill pizza and monkey salad.
More than a look at Youngstown's industrial past or its issues with crime, this anthology is a book about Youngstown experiences--love, hardship, hang-ups, defeat, joy, kindness, and devotion--told by the people who have actually lived them.
A nuanced portrait of Youngstown that will make you question all your previous notions about it.
