Poor White (Revived Modern Classic) [Paperback]

Sherwood Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Revived Modern Classic | Publication Date: May 17, 1993

Hugh arose and stood in the moonlight in the cabbage field, his arms still going stiffly up and down. The great length of his figure and his arms was accentuated by the wavering uncertain light. The laborers, aware of some strange presence, sprang to their feet and stood listening and looking. Hugh advanced toward them, still muttering words and waving his arms. Terror took hold of the workers. One of the woman plant droppers screamed and ran away across the field, and the others ran crying at her heels. "Don't do it. Go away," the older of the French boys shouted, and then he with his brothers also ran.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anderson's story of inventor Hugh McVey, which he originally published in 1920, the year after Winesburg, Ohio , is considered by many to be his finest novel.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing (May 17, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811212424
• ISBN-13: 978-0811212427
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tale of America's transition to industrialism!, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Poor White (Revived Modern Classic) (Paperback)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important document of America's changing landscape., June 14, 1999

By 

Duane Simolke "author, The Acorn Stories, Deg... (Lubbock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Poor White (Revived Modern Classic) (Paperback)

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.).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars no title, November 15, 2005

By 

C. L Wilson (Elmhurst, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Poor White (Revived Modern Classic) (Paperback)

" 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.