After the Manner of Men

"After the Manner of Men" by Francis Lynde is a story about Vance Tregarvon, a man from Philadelphia, whose life is changed when he decides to work at the Ocoee coal mine in Tennessee. It's a story of class differences, the struggle between progress and a rough way of life, and one man's drive to succeed, all mixed together with his relationships with interesting people, like Richardia and his rich friend, Poictiers Carfax. Right away, Tregarvon gets a harsh welcome to his new life in the Tennessee mountains when he finds himself in a dangerous situation, but it turns out to be a funny misunderstanding involving women practicing shooting. This meeting introduces him to important characters like the lively Richardia. As Tregarvon tries to make the mine successful, he has to deal with tricky situations and local rivalries, uncovering the mine's mysterious history and facing the anger of the locals, all while trying to find his place in this unfamiliar world.