Bozeman Magazine

You know what made the old West wild, 100 years ago? A little thing called the Labor Movement, which changed Montana forever and gave birth to unions. Author Jess Walter, a native of Spokane, Washington, has written a very engaging novel featuring two fictional brothers from Butte who head west to make their fortune and bump into a historical figures such as Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, known as Rebel Girl, leader of the Labor movement. In celebration of the 2022 One Book One Bozeman selection, The Cold Millions by Jess Walter, Bozeman Public Library welcomes Rich Aarstad to discuss the very long and robust organized labor union history in Montana. Mr. Aarstad serves as the State Archivist at the Montana Historical Society. His BA & MA in History from UMontana, long-time Union membership, and knowledge of local lore make labor a favorite subject of his, and promises an engaging presentation. Unions and the labor movement are a major plot point in The Cold Millions, and feature real life ‘Rebel Girl’ Elizabeth Gurley Flynn in this historical novel. Set in Spokane, Washington in 1909, this is a classic history of the modern American West. The Cold Millions is based on real-life events and figures from the 1909-1910 Free Speech Riots in Spokane, Washington, Mr. Walter’s hometown. Rich Aarstad’s discussion of Organized Labor in Montana will be held on Thursday, September 15, at 6:30 PM in the Large Community room at Bozeman Public Library. This in-person event is open to the public free of charge as part of the 2022 One Book One Bozeman celebration of The Cold Millions by Jess Walter. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter is available to borrow on demand in audiobook form from Hoopla with your Bozeman Public Library card. Several paperback copies are also available to borrow. One Book One Bozeman is a community focused event wherein one book is selected as the local read. By supporting this selection with author talks, discussion panels and other programming, OBOB promotes literacy and community engagement through the shared experience of reading. For more information, please call 406-582-2410, or visit https://www.bozemanlibrary.org/one-book-one-bozeman