The Cigar Factory

By: Michele Moore

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

"The sun leaned for down bringing shade to the waterfront," begins Michele Moore's entrancing debut novel, harkening back to an era when the legendary fishermen of Charleston's Mosquito Fleet rowed miles offshore for their daily catch.

With evocative dialect and remarkable prose, The Cigar Factory tells the story of two entwined families, both devout Catholics - the white McGonegals and the African American Ravenels - in the storied port city of Charleston, South Carolina, during the World Wars. Moore's novel follows the parallel lives of family matriarchs working on segregated floors of the massive Charleston cigar factory, where white and black workers remain divided and misinformed about the duties and treatment received by each other.

Cassie McGonegal and her niece, Brigid, work upstairs in the factory rolling cigars by hand. Meliah Amey Ravenel works in the basement, where she stems the tobacco. While both white and black workers suffer in the harsh working conditions of the factory and both endure the sexual harassment of the foremen, segregation keeps them from recognizing their common plight until the Tobacco Workers Strike of 1945. Through the experience of a brutal picket line, the two women come to realize how much they stand to gain by joining forces, creating a powerful moment in labor history that gives rise to the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome".

Moore's extensive historical research included interviews with her own family members who worked at the cigar factory, adding a layer of nuance and authenticity to her empowering story of families and friendships forged through struggle, loss, and redemption.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 Michele Moore (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

A Tale of Two Charlestons

Two families sharing common language, workplace and folkways, yet separated by race. "Cigar Factory" illustrates the psychological and social boundaries of poor whites and poor blacks. It portrays the opportunities that would come (and did come) from recognizing a potential ally. I loved seeing into a lost world in this well-researched book.

If Charleston's culture is rooted in its language Robin Miles takes you in deep. I had the feeling she relished the chance to take on the Gullah inflected english for the length of an entire book. Although the story is often dark, her performance is joyful. A virtuoso given a particularly complicated piece. She makes Charleston sing and effortlessly becomes the story.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Fabulous book

If you could sum up The Cigar Factory in three words, what would they be?

Fascinating lowcountry storu

Have you listened to any of Robin Miles’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Haven't listened to others, but she,was spot on with her lowcountry accents. I think it made the book so much more enjoyable to listen to her read it rather than sitting down to read it. I loved it!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

yes..wont say which parts because I don't want to give it away, but cried several times.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I've lived in CHARLESTON the past 20 years and the story thread is true to the City, I learned a lot!

The dialogue is an experience appreciated! I'll always tell people about it. Thanks to the author!!!😀

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

EXCELLENT both in terms of history and story

Where does The Cigar Factory rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the best. As a frequent visitor to Charleston, with family members who live there, this book was accurate historically and geographically, compelling in its story line and outstanding in the performance

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both Meliah Amey and Cassie were compelling. But one of my husband's relatives, Judge Waring, is my favorite character

What does Robin Miles bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The sounds of old Charleston: I was unaware that gullah was as widely spoken as it was in the early 1900s. Robin thoroughly transported me back in time. It was excellent

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The hair stood up on the back of my neck for most of the story...it was that well performed and that believable

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book to anyone

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bridges that join people and time

Water under the bridge of time shows how far we have come. We still need change, the brave characters, strong men and women with faith and determination took small steps to raise their family to be better than themselves. They were both poor, considered lower class, and felt like they were different, but had many similarities. loved the book. the writing and narration wonderful. I can't wait to go to Charleston, and I may have me a cigar.

Well done.

Great story, very informative. The author was able to tell the same story from two perspective where the characters intertwined for a great and positive ending.

Narrator was incredible!

Which character – as performed by Robin Miles – was your favorite?

My favorite character was Aunt Cassie

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me angry that the factory owners and managers were so insensitive.

Slow,boring story

What disappointed you about The Cigar Factory?

I was expecting a riveting story about the deplorable conditions under which these women lived......but the story was painstakinglyy slow.....could not get into it....stopped listening about one third of the way thru....

Would you ever listen to anything by Michele Moore again?

No. the accents were all the same....language was difficult to understand

Any additional comments?

Major disappointment.....

More than interesting

What made the experience of listening to The Cigar Factory the most enjoyable?

The uniqueness of the story.

What did you like best about this story?

All of it!

What about Robin Miles’s performance did you like?

She obviously has a great interest in the subject; her enthusiasm for the characters comes through and her command of the accents and language required is excellent. She also has perfect diction.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The early 1900s seen from a different perspective.

Any additional comments?

The uniqueness of the subject matter opens the listener's thoughts to a whole new universe and what you thought you knew about racism and the inequality of that time might be challenged...