Book Review: His Family by Ernest Poole

This past January, I decided to read more of the Pulitzer Prize novels. I wanted to feel smarter. (Haha) I made a list of the winners and am just checking them off as I go.

Guess where I’m at four and a half months into 2025? At one. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ve read a few winning novels over the years but didn’t realize I had until I made my list.

So, of course, I started at the beginning with His Family by Ernest Poole. I really enjoyed this book. And this novel holds a unique distinction. It was the first novel to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1918.

Published in 1917, this novel explores themes of family, changing society, particularly New York City during the transformative 1910s, and the protagonist’s personal growth as he watches his adult daughters navigate life.

The novel centers on Roger Gale, a widowed New York businessman in his 60s, who has conflicting emotions with the evolving societal landscape of the 1910s as he observes the divergent paths of his three adult daughters.

Roger, along with his daughters, Edith, Deborah, and Laura, navigate life in early 20th-century Manhattan after the death of his wife. Each daughter embodies a distinct response to the rapidly evolving societal norms:

• Edith, the eldest, represents traditional domesticity, dedicating herself to her husband and children. She is very protective of her immediate family and very narrow in her thinking.

• Deborah, the middle child, is a progressive school principal committed to social reform and education and isn’t sure if she should marry and become a mother. She is also narrow in her thinking but less so than Edith.

• Laura, the youngest, seeks personal freedom and self-fulfillment and embraces the burgeoning modern lifestyle, which Roger disapproves of. But, again, very narrow in her thinking.

Each person in the story seems to stick to their own outlook on the world, and all but Laura seem to have positive growth by the end of the novel.

Through these characters, Poole explores themes of generational conflict, the role of women in society, and the tensions between tradition and progress. The narrative offers a window into the complexities of family dynamics against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America.

While His Family was well-received at the time, some literary critics and historians suggest that the Pulitzer committee's decision may have been influenced by the success of Poole's earlier work, The Harbor (1915), which did not receive the award due to its publication preceding the establishment of the Pulitzer Prizes. I will have to read this and see if the critics were right.

Poole's writing is characterized by its earnestness and attention to detail. His portrayal of New York City captures the vibrancy and challenges of urban life during a time of significant change. It was interesting to read about NYC in this era. I even found old photos of what the city looked like back then. (See below.)

The novel focuses on the character development of Roger, Edith, Deborah, and the emotional depth of Roger's internal struggles. And, yes, I deliberately left Laura out. I honestly would never imagine I would care about a 60-year-old man’s internal struggles, but I found myself invested in Roger.

I wanted his life to be easy; he’d lost his wife, struggled with business because of WWI and the changing city he’d grown to love, and dealt with his daughters’ whims and fancies. I was surprised I cared, but I did.

Although some critics have noted that the novel's pacing can be slow, and its themes occasionally feel overly preachy, I would disagree. I thought it was well-done for all its exploration of the societal and family issues of the time period. It was chosen for the Pulitzer for a reason, right?

His Family was published during a period of profound societal transformation. The early 20th century saw shifts in gender roles, increased immigration, and the impact of World War I. Poole, a journalist and social reformer, infused his narrative with insights drawn from his experiences, providing a window into the challenges and aspirations of the time.

Over a century later, I think His Family continues to resonate with readers. Its exploration of the complexities of parent-child relationships, the struggle to adapt to societal changes, and the search for personal meaning remains relevant.

Roger is a decent narrator, despite his flaws and biases as his girls’ father. The novel invites readers to reflect on their own family experiences and the ways in which personal and societal transformations intersect.

His Family may not possess the dramatic flair of some modern novels, but its quiet introspection and emotional sincerity offer a rewarding reading experience. For those interested in early 20th-century American literature, familial narratives, or the historical context of the Pulitzer Prize, Poole's novel provides valuable insights.

If you decide to revisit this pioneering work, you may be reminded of the enduring power of literature to illuminate the human experience across generations.

His Family is available in the public domain and can be accessed through platforms like Project Gutenberg. I found my copy on Amazon’s Kindle for a couple of dollars.

NYC 1910-1915