Poor White

In this modernist novel, inventor Hugh McVey relocates from Missouri to Bidwell, Ohio, where he develops a mechanical cabbage planter to help local farmers. After facing exploitation from an investor, his next creation, a corn cutter, leads to unexpected wealth and transforms the town into a manufacturing hub. Amidst his success, McVey grapples with loneliness, eventually crossing paths with Ohio State student Clara Butterworth. Published shortly after the acclaimed Winesburg, Ohio, this work captures the nuances of everyday life with a realist approach.