September 19, 2002

"Poor White" by Sherwood Anderson: In every man's life there comes a time to "get on in the world." That very mantra echoed in the ears of young Hugh McVey, the "poor white" Missouri son of a widowed drunkard. Unwilling to live like his father in an alcohol-induced stupor, yet prone to laziness and daydreaming, Hugh struggles to find his place.

Hugh's general awkwardness and difficulty with people carry him from one false start to the next until he finds himself settled as a telegraph operator in the town of Bidwell, Ohio. Living an isolated life, Hugh's imagination turns to invention. Little did he know that the dreams he once fought against, fearing they would lead him to his father's ruin, would spark an industrial revolution.

Hugh is but one of three main characters in the book. The second is Clara Butterworth. The daughter of Tom Butterworth, a prominent citizen of Bidwell and financial backer of Hugh's inventions, Clara is finding her own difficulties in trying to meet the world. She went away to college to get an education, yet it seems everyone around her is disappointed she didn't find a husband. Clara wants more from life than just marriage. But what other opportunities await her? She symbolizes the changing role of women in modern America.

The final lead in this memorable yarn is Bidwell itself. Small town USA at its finest, Bidwell gradually succumbs to the machine age. Progress comes with a price. Hard work, religion, and community give way to productivity, greed, and individualism. Bidwell, along with the United States as a whole, is changed forever. And it may not be for the better.

"Poor White" isn't standard storytelling. Mr. Anderson manipulates the structure, jumping between characters and timelines to keep things interesting. He does a remarkable job of blending social commentary with the personal stories of Hugh and Clara. He depicts their loneliness in heart-rending detail, finding the quiet, meaningful moments of life with the same deft touch he displayed in his classic "Winesburg, Ohio." It's hard to believe, but "Poor White" is every bit as good.

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"Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton: Starkfield, Massachusetts, isn't a very nice place to live. Its desolate, wintry landscape gets the best of most settlers. The smart ones move on. Then there's Ethan Frome.

Ethan has been in Starkfield his entire life. He stayed with the family farm after his parents died, marrying his wife Zeena - a woman seven years his senior, 35 to his 28 - more out of desperation and loneliness than love. Zeena entered Ethan's life as a nurse for his ailing mother. When his mother passed, Ethan couldn't stand the thought of being on the farm by himself and asked Zeena to stay.

Marriage didn't seem to sit well with Zeena. She immediately took ill. Or at least she claimed to be sick. Mrs. Frome lifted hypochondria to new heights. All the while Ethan did his best to take care of her, plodding away in a loveless marriage on a faltering farm in a brutally harsh environment.

Zeena's troubles progressed to the point that she needed help taking care of the house. Mattie Silver, a cousin of Zeena's, arrives to help ease the burden. Mattie is the daughter of the family's black sheep. Zeena isn't thrilled to have her, but at least Mattie's presence seems to validate her poor health.

Mattie isn't very skilled in terms of housework. She's 20 years old, alone in the world, and a delicate flower of a girl. She's everything Zeena is not; young, vibrant, beautiful. And for the first time in his life, Ethan knows what love is.

Ethan attempts to suppress his feelings for Mattie, but it's no use. She feels the same. Before they can figure out what to do about their chaste love affair, Zeena insists that her condition has worsened and that she requires absolute bed rest and a true helper, not just a silly girl that's incapable of most domestic tasks. Ethan can't bear to think of his life without Mattie. Running away with her wasn't an option. Zeena remained his responsibility. Besides, how could he afford their escape? But something had to be done.

The decision upon which Ethan and Mattie arrive endear them both to 70 Proof's heart. But it's also what flaws the book. Not wanting to give too much away, it's a decision that should have only been reached by Ethan. If he makes the call, without her knowing what's going on, then you have something special. As it is, things are fine, but somewhat ordinary. Just that one subtle change, making Mattie ignorant to Ethan's intentions at the crucial point of the story, would have made this a brilliant book.

I'd still put "Ethan Frome" ahead of "House of Mirth" on the Edith Wharton checklist. Ms. Wharton does some real nice stuff here. The book begins with an unnamed narrator introducing the reader to the Ethan character as he is in later life. The narrator interacts with Ethan and then the book takes a trip to the past to tell the story from a third-person perspective. The narrator returns at the end to reveal an ironic conclusion worthy of O. Henry.

This is a very good book. It could have been great.

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