Description
By: Ernest Poole (1880-1950)
The Harbor by Ernest Poole is a gripping novel that follows the lives of the inhabitants of a New York City harbor neighborhood during the early 1900s. The story is told through the eyes of Roger Gale, a young journalist who becomes intimately acquainted with the struggles and triumphs of the working class residents.
Poole’s vivid descriptions bring the gritty reality of urban life to life, showcasing the poverty, labor unrest, and social injustices that plagued the era. The characters are well-developed and complex, each facing their own personal challenges and transformations as they navigate the turbulent waters of change.
The author delves into themes of social inequality, family dynamics, and the impact of industrialization on traditional ways of life. The novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience, highlighting the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Overall, The Harbor is a powerful and engaging read that offers a unique perspective on a tumultuous period in American history. Poole’s insightful narrative is sure to resonate with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.
Book Description:
The Harbor was written in 1915 by Ernest Poole. The novel is considered by many to be one of Poole’s best efforts even though his book, The Family won a Pulitzer Prize. The Harbor is a fictional account of life on a Brooklyn waterfront through the eyes of Billy as he is growing up. The novel starts with Billy the child, living on the harbor with his father, mother, and sister, Sue. During this time he also meets Eleanor who, at that time, he considers to be strange. She later becomes an important character in the novel. His father owns a shipping business, is hard-working, and can think of little else. As a young man, Billy begins to detest the harbor and longs for escape to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a writer and avoiding his father’s business. With his mother’s blessing, he takes flight to Paris to hone his trade. While in Paris, he meets Joe Kramer (J.K.) and a sometimes stormy relationship begins. J.K. forces him to confront human situations that Billy would prefer to close his eyes to. Billy eventually returns to the harbor after some years and recognizes changes are taking place in the harbor, and in his life. The harbor becomes a subject for his writing and his personal relationships. His attitude about the harbor begins to evolve. Throughout the novel, J.K. continues to make appearances in Billy’s life, challenging him to write about things as they really are and not as Billy’s world of comfort shows them to be. Billy’s life is changed when the harbor goes on strike and he becomes involved in the labor movement. What more can be said about a book that starts with the words, “You Chump!”?
