Poor White

By Sherwood Anderson

Book Overview

Sherwood Anderson's "Poor White" explores the profound social changes sweeping through rural America during the industrial revolution. A powerful work of literary fiction, the novel examines the impact of industrialization on small town life and the challenges faced by those grappling with poverty.

Through vivid prose, Anderson captures a pivotal moment in history, portraying the transformation of agrarian communities and the disruption of traditional ways of life. This historical novel offers a compelling look at the sociological shifts that reshaped the American landscape.

"Poor White" remains a relevant and insightful exploration of progress, its promises, and its costs. This meticulously prepared edition ensures that Anderson's timeless story continues to resonate with readers interested in the enduring themes of social change and the human condition.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1023132680
• ISBN13: 9781023132688
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

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" The machines men are so intent on making have carried them very far from the old sweet things." This quote from the book sums up its core philosophy very nicely. Surely this is Anderson's best book, also depressing, but not as much as "Winesburg, Ohio", and quite sweet in its depiction of a life now lost. Anderson must have deeply loved the country and its farms to have described it so wondrously. And his skill in depicting even the most minute of characters is quite remarkable. This ability to draw out of the smallest things such vivid detail, is really outstanding. I liked this book very much and would almost wish to return to those "old sweet things". He really abhored the machine age and, as in "Winesburg", all his people, especially Clara and Hugh, are abysmal at trying to connect with their fellow human beings. Created with a lot of suspense.

Excellent tale of America's transition to industrialism!

If you thought that Winesburg Ohio was good, then you'll absolutely love Poor White. It has a similar feel as Winesburg, except this story revolves around two main characters, Hugh McVey and Clara Butterworth. Poor White tells of how the spread of industrialism affected the agrarian towns of the Midwest.

An important document of America's changing landscape.

Sherwood Anderson captures America's change from agrarian to industrial, with insightful and poetic writing. This is a perfect companion to Anderson's best-known work (Winesburg, Ohio) as well as to the many non-fiction books on the same topic (The Machine in the Garden, etc.).