America’s first superheroes lived in the Midwest. There was Nanabozho, the Ojibway man-god who conquered the King of Fish, took control of the North Wind, and inspired Longfellow's The Song
Much has been made of the 2016 electoral flip of traditionally Democratic states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to tip Donald Trump into the presidency. Countless think pieces have e
Hugh McVey moves from Missouri to the agrarian town of Bidwell, Ohio. He invents a mechanical cabbage planter to ease the burden of famers, but an investor in town exploits his product, which fails to
What compelled West Virginia's teachers to strike? How did they organize? What were teachers and allies doing during the strike? And how is the West Virginia labor movement celebrating its victory
These short stories, originally published in 1891, are set in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, or what the Garland called the "Middle Border." They depict an agrarian life of exploitation, misogyny, an
A young bear—The Fool—is cast off from its mother in the spring to wander a fragmented suburban forest, to be harried by dogs and traffic, chased through golf courses and farms. An ocean-going trout c
First published in 1896, The Damnation of Theron Ware follows a young Methodist minister who comes to a small, upstate New York town to spread the gospel. Instead, his congregation slowly leads him do
Nicknamed the "Dean of American Letters," William Dean Howells was a remarkable literary figure. A novelist, critic, and playwright, he forged friendships with luminaries such as Mark Twain, Henry Jam
Buffalo is a magical place to be and this anthology walks the reader through the decades. The newness of the city is electrifying and sits atop a glorious history of power, disappointment, artistic fl
Unfolding the real Cleveland, this guidebook features listings of the city’s best cultural hotspots as well as essays about residential communities. Readers will learn about places that are no longer
Science fiction has historically been seen as a masculine domain, but from the very beginning women have made their mark. To the ranks of Mary Shelley and C. L. Moore, we should add Clare Winger Harri
On November 10, 1898, a mob of 400 rampages through the streets of Wilmington, North Carolina, killing as many as 60 citizens, burning down the newspaper office, overthrowing the newly elected leaders
We all think we know what the suburbs are like: affluent, conservative, orderly, and a bit dull. To describe a style or mindset as “suburban” is not a compliment. It’s true that many American suburbs
St. Louis is undoubtedly fragmented, physically so in that the city is dissected by rivers, highways, walls, and fences; but also in a more insidious way. It’s a city (like many) where race, class, re
Are you moving to Detroit because your rent is too high? Did you read somewhere that all you needed to buy a house was the change in your couch cushions? Are you terrified to live in a majority-black
