Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America

Pigs have had a significant place in US history, serving as a source of food, welfare, and transportation. J. L. Anderson's book "Capitalist Pigs" explores the cultural assumptions about pigs and their impact on the nation's regional, racial, and class fault lines, revealing a deep history of the American landscape.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2019
Publisher: West Virginia University Press

Pigs have had a significant presence throughout United States history, leaving an indelible mark on the nation's development. These versatile animals not only played a crucial role in clearing frontiers and building cities, but they also served as an early form of welfare, providing sustenance to countless individuals. In the 19th century, pigs became the center of two significant "pig wars" that further shaped American society.

American pork, produced by these hardworking creatures, became a staple food across the hemisphere, nourishing millions. Lard, derived from pig fat, played a vital role in lubricating the wheels of capitalism, contributing to the nation's economic growth and industrialization.

To explore the multifaceted history of pigs and pig products in America, J. L. Anderson has written an ambitious and comprehensive book. Spanning from the Columbian exchange to the present day, Anderson emphasizes critical stories of production, consumption, and waste in American history. He delves into various cultural assumptions about pigs, shedding light on the nation's regional, racial, and class fault lines. By mapping the locations of pigs across the American landscape, Anderson unveils a deep history of the nation's physical and cultural development.

Capitalist Pigs is a valuable contribution to American history, food studies, agricultural history, and animal studies. Accessible and extensively researched, the book offers readers an insightful and often surprising portrait of one of the most consequential interspecies relationships on our planet. Through its pages, readers gain a deeper understanding of the role that pigs have played in shaping American society and the complex web of relationships that exist between humans, animals, and the environment.

Weight: 740g
Dimension: 191 x 233 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781946684738