Publisher's Synopsis
Ernest Poole's Novel "His Family" (1917) was given the very first Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1918. The novel occurs during the 1910s in New York City as well as relates to the lifetime of widower Roger Gale and his three daughters.
In the spring of 1913, the novel opens with New York businessman Roger Gale evaluating the changes in New York after his youth. He makes an effort to keep his deceased wife close to their daughters - Edithe, Deborah as well as Laura - however he feels distant from them. The family dramas occur with Laura getting engaged by chance, Edith getting pregnant unsafe, and Deborah dedicating herself to her college and reform work.
The diverse responses of his daughters to social changes and their private challenges complicate Roger's life more. Bruce, the husband of Edith, dies and she and her kids must relocate to the family house. Deborah, a school principal, takes an active part in social change and ultimately agrees to we d doctor Allan Baird after at first delaying their wedding.
Roger faces financial problems when World War I starts and he's forced to carry a loan on his home. Laura returns home following a row with her husband Hal Sloane regarding her fling with his business partner. The family faces various struggles, including financial strain and disagreements over female's suffrage and contemporary ideas.
Roger prevails with the household money and Deborah is ultimately married happily. He passes away, feeling linked with his family, fulfilling his wife's dying wish.
The novel is significant since it portrays a middle class American family throughout the beginning of twentieth century and the societal changes in New York City. The book discusses issues like immigration, modernization and also the effect of World War I in American society.
Understanding the topics as well as characters in Ernest Poole's novel "His Family," set during the 1910s in New York City, demands knowing its historical background. The American society underwent substantial social, economic, and political transformations during this period.
Industrialization as well as Urbanization: The United States underwent rapid industrial development and urbanisation throughout the beginning of twentieth century. The novel is set in New York City which had been a centre for these changes. A substantial influx of immigrants and a construction boom produced a crowded, diverse urbanized environment in the city. The novel centers around this particular setting, exploring how changes in the family unit and individual characters reveal themselves.
Immigration: Immigration to the United States during the 1910s was considerable, particularly to major cities like New York. Numerous immigrants from different regions of Europe along with other parts arrived in search of better prospects. The influx produced cultural diversity but also produced problems when it comes to integration, discrimination, and living standards - especially in tenement housing. Deborah in "His Family" helps immigrant families as well as addresses social problems.
Social Reforms as well as Female's Suffrage: This era was crucial for the female's suffrage movement and other social reform initiatives. The battle for female's voting rights was taking off, resulting in the 19th Amendment in 1920. Characters like Deborah, who is engaged with social works and reform, bring these themes to the novel.
The 1914-1918 World War 1: The novel covers The period preceding and following World war I, which had significant ramifications for American society, concerning financial difficulties and modifications in social customs. The novel witnesses the consequences of the war, particularly in its concluding chapters where the characters confront financial problems and changes in culture caused by the war.
