July 1893. In the lofty terrain of America’s highest silver-mining town, Congress’s sudden gold standard sends silver—and the lives tied to it—plummeting. Frances Byrne, a woman of fierce independence, labors in her print shop with the quiet conviction that steady work will secure her home, her family, and her place in an unraveling world. As her mostly Irish-immigrant neighborhood edges toward unionization, Frances keeps her head down, resisting the clamor of political action. When her home and shop fall under the watchful eyes of Pinkerton spies, her convictions are tested, and her attachment to the idea of rugged individualism begins to crack. When the conflicts plaguing Leadville come to a head, Fran is pushed to the forefront, navigating shifting loyalties, love, loss, and the transformation toward collective power.

Praise for The Sleepers

“Epic in scope and meticulous in the telling, this is a thoroughly considered, consummately rendered and timely testament to hard-scrabble existence in the face of covetous venture. A compelling, evocative, and ambitious paean to the human spirit and togetherness; to grit and defiance and resilience; to the scrape and chisel to be from a place. Read it.”

—Alan McMonagle, author of Ithaca and Laura Cassidy’s Walk of Fame

“Readers who love stories about extraordinary women, the histories of labor, Irish Immigrant stories, and the American West will love The Sleepers!”

—Sarah Valentine, PhD, author of When I Was White: A Memoir, and Decoding the Devil: Black Women and The Secret War Against Stalin’s Bomb

“A beautifully inviting, immersive portrait. Sturdevant excels at showing how economic hardship, labor organization, and family bonds intersect in the daily lives of working people. It feels personal. She is one of the most talented storytellers of our generation.”

—Shannon O’Neill, Chicago playwright and winner of The Jeff Award for Best New Work: The Kelly Girls

“We are at a threshold—climate crisis, social injustice and war is currently shaping our world. We refuse to learn from the past. But The Sleepers is a reminder of where we all came from.”

—Helle Helsner, visual artist and bronze caster, Ireland

“Feminists, fans of historical fiction, people interested in working-class people and the amazing, undertold stories of the struggles of American miners will want this book. This book will be loved by readers who value beautiful prose and a compelling story equally.”

—Dr. Deborah Adelman, author and professor emerita, Department of English, College of DuPage

“I love that it brings to life what life was like for the Sixth Street Irish and that the details were so well researched. It is not a book based upon the stereotypical roles for women during the times.”

—Kathleen Fitzsimmons, Leadville resident, photographer, and historian

“Reads like a painting; beautiful dialogue, tensions hang over this novel like icicles.”

—James Walsh, University of Colorado Denver

“Now is a time that the wealthy are trying to squeeze working people. This book shows the importance of working-class solidarity, and it shows the contributions of immigrants to the US.”

—James Madigan, author of Political Prisoners USA and Other Poems

“In our time of questioning the validity of information we see and read, it is important to read this telling of another period where people similarly kept secrets but also had faith that justice would prevail.”

—Joanna Moran, writing instructor and author

“The world needs awareness and appreciation for labor organization and power as our collective human rights are under assault by the ruling elite. Her novel shows the power in regular people and generates the right amount of outrage needed to confront oppression and claim our dignity as a collective.”

—Nicole Lombardi, poet and activist, Committee for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel