His Family

"His Family" by Ernest Poole is a novel written during the early 20th century. The story centers around Roger Gale, a middle-aged man navigating life after the death of his wife, Judith, and the impact of his three grown daughters—Edith, Laura, and Deborah—on his evolving sense of family and self. The novel explores themes of love, generational change, and the pursuit of happiness amid the complexities of urban life in New York. At the start of the book, we find Roger Gale reflecting on his life and the vibrant yet tumultuous nature of New York City. He reminisces about his past, detailing his rugged upbringing, his marriage to Judith, and the grief he suffered after her death. As he plays chess with his daughter Edith, we see glimpses of the relationships within his family and the changes that have transpired over the years. The narrative sets the stage for Roger’s gradual awakening to the needs of his daughters, as they navigate their personal lives—Edith’s struggles with motherhood, Deborah’s commitment to her teaching, and Laura’s impending marriage to a young man named Harold Sloane—against the backdrop of a city that continues to evolve while his own life feels increasingly caught in an unchanging pattern. This opening establishes a poignant exploration of familial bonds and the existential quest for fulfillment.