Windy McPherson's Son

Windy McPherson's Son (1916) is a novel by Sherwood Anderson. Both fictional and autobiographical, Anderson's debut novel is a coming of age story that explores themes of unhappiness and infidelity while illustrating the frustrations of the son of an abusive father. Although he is known today for his story collection Winesburg, Ohio, a pioneering work of Modernist fiction admired for its plainspoken language and psychological detail, Anderson's Windy McPherson's Son is a powerful work of fiction that helped establish him as a leading realist writer of his generation. "At the beginning of the long twilight of a summer evening, Sam McPherson, a tall big-boned boy of thirteen, with brown hair, black eyes, and an amusing little habit of tilting his chin in the air as he walked, came upon the platform of the little corn-shipping town of Caxton in Iowa." With a cigar in his hand and a bundle of newspapers under his arm, the young Sam McPherson appears both overly proud and ambitious for his age. Those that know him, however, understand that he has no choice. Left to fend for himself by an alcoholic father, Sam dreams of making a name for himself and escaping the small town of his birth. When an ill-fated affair with an older teacher leaves him disgraced, McPherson abandons his father for Chicago, where he finds work as a purchaser of farming equipment. Soon, he falls in love with his boss' daughter, the beautiful Sue Rainey. Windy McPherson's Son is a story of the American Dream, for all of its difficult truths and convenient fictions. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sherwood Anderson's Windy McPherson's Son is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

About the author

Sherwood Anderson (1876 -1941) was an American writer whose meticulous character development earned him recognition as a "writer's writer." Like a number of other famous writers such as Anton Chekhov, Charles Dickens, and Louisa May Alcott, Anderson's childhood and adolescence were marked by family hardship. When his father's business failed, the family moved frequently, and his mother became an alcoholic. As a result of these hardships, Anderson left school at the age of fourteen to help support the family finances. Anderson is best known for his short stories, particularly his collection published as Winesburg, Ohio (1919). His characters, whom he describes as "grotesques" in his first story, transform experiences into truths, which can be built-up, and once embraced, turn to falsehoods. He writes almost lovingly about his own collection of "grotesques," using a writing style often compared to his literary predecessor, William Dean Howells, as naturalism. Anderson invites the reader into his process as a writer, where he unfolds his characters' views of the world, intertwined as they are, in a small midwestern town. Anderson's appealing style influenced many other writers, including Willa Cather, Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner, among others. His ability to delve into the human psyche and present characters with profound depth and empathy set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Sherwood Anderson: Winesburg, Ohio, 1919 While Winesburg, Ohio is not without its critics, it remains a beloved classic. Readers often find themselves engrossed in the lives of the characters and the vivid sketches narrated by George Willard. Anderson's narrative control is evident throughout the collection, prompting readers to reflect not only on the stories themselves but also on the man behind them. His ability to write with great empathy and insight into human nature has left a lasting impact on American literature. If you have not yet read Winesburg, Ohio, I encourage you to do so. Anderson's portrayal of small-town life and his exploration of the human condition offer a rich and rewarding reading experience.

Summary

Windy McPherson’s Son (1916) is a novel by Sherwood Anderson. Both fictional and autobiographical, Anderson’s debut novel is a coming of age story that explores themes of unhappiness and infidelity while illustrating the frustrations of the son of an abusive father. Although he is known today for his story collection Winesburg, Ohio, a pioneering work of Modernist fiction admired for its plainspoken language and psychological detail, Anderson’s Windy McPherson’s Son is a powerful work of fiction that helped establish him as a leading realist writer of his generation. “At the beginning of the long twilight of a summer evening, Sam McPherson, a tall big-boned boy of thirteen, with brown hair, black eyes, and an amusing little habit of tilting his chin in the air as he walked, came upon the platform of the little corn-shipping town of Caxton in Iowa.” With a cigar in his hand and a bundle of newspapers under his arm, the young Sam McPherson appears both overly proud and ambitious for his age. Those that know him, however, understand that he has no choice. Left to fend for himself by an alcoholic father, Sam dreams of making a name for himself and escaping the small town of his birth. When an ill-fated affair with an older teacher leaves him disgraced, McPherson abandons his father for Chicago, where he finds work as a purchaser of farming equipment. Soon, he falls in love with his boss’ daughter, the beautiful Sue Rainey. Windy McPherson’s Son is a story of the American Dream, for all of its difficult truths and convenient fictions. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sherwood Anderson’s Windy McPherson’s Son is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Product details

• Authors: Sherwood Anderson
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2021
• EAN: 9781513283494
• ISBN: 978-1-5132-8349-4
• No. of pages: 270
• Illustrations: Illustrationen, nicht spezifiziert
• Series: Mint Editions; Mint Editions—Literary Fiction; Mint Editions (Literary Fiction)
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; FICTION / World Literature / England / 20th Century, autobiographical fiction;english;debut novel;literary, Biographical fiction / autobiographical fiction, debut novel; autobiographical fiction; literary; english