Structure

“The Worst Hard Time – The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl,” by Timothy Eagan is separated into three main sections: “I. Promise, The Great Plowup 1901-1930,” “II. Betrayal, 1931-1933,” and “III. Blowup, 1934-1939.” An introduction precedes the first section and provides a summary of the devastating years of the Dust Bowl and its impact on the High Plains.

The chapters in the first section, “Promise,” tell how people were lured into the southern High Plains with promises of jobs for cowboys and fertile land for farmers. For the thousands who moved to the region to start anew, there was the hope of a good life for their families. The second section, “Betrayal” describes how the area began to deteriorate along with the hopes and dreams of the transplanted farmers and cowboys. “Blowup” relates how the people tried to hang onto their pieces...