A Certain Rich Man

by William Allen White

""A Certain Rich Man"" is a classic novel written by William Allen White. The book tells the story of John Barclay, a wealthy businessman who has everything he could ever want - money, power, and prestige. However, despite his success, John feels unfulfilled and unhappy with his life.As John navigates the ups and downs of his personal and professional life, he begins to question the values and priorities that have guided him thus far. He becomes increasingly aware of the social and economic inequalities that exist in society and starts to question his own role in perpetuating them.Throughout the book, John grapples with issues of morality, ethics, and social responsibility. He must confront the consequences of his actions and make difficult choices that will determine the course of his life.""A Certain Rich Man"" is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that explores timeless themes of wealth, power, and the human condition. It offers a compelling glimpse into the mind of a successful but conflicted individual and challenges readers to consider their own values and priorities.1909. White, a journalist, worked for various Kansas newspapers before purchasing the Emporia Gazette, which he edited for the next 49 years. In his fiction, White frequently used the idealized, middle-western small town as a rhetorical device through which to preach reform. A Certain Rich Man The woods were as the Indians had left them, but the boys who were playing there did not realize, until many years afterward, that they had moved in as the Indians moved out. Perhaps, if these boys had known that they were the first white boys to use the Indians's playgrounds, the realization might have added zest to the make-believe of their games; but probably boys between seven and fourteen, when they play at all, play with their fancies strained, and very likely these little boys, keeping their stick-horse livery-stable in a wild-grape arbor in the thicket, needed no verisimilitude. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

440 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1936

About the author

William Allen White was a renowned American newspaper editor, politician, author, and leader of the Progressive movement. Between 1896 and his death, White became the iconic spokesman for middle America.

Reviews

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A copy of this 1909 novel was seen briefly in "The Land" movie, which was partially filmed in my town of Louisburg, KS. I did some investigation and found it was written by the famous Kansas newspaperman, William Allen White. As is often the case with books of that era, it was written in a style difficult for the modern reader to follow. But stripping away all the unfamiliar language and references, it turned out to be an interesting story. The main focus is on John Barclay, a young Kansas man who become extremely wealthy in the years following the Civil War. His wealth is built on some shady deals at the beginning of his career, and he continued to cheat as his power and influence grew. Barclay's actions caused serious harm and death to some people closest to him, and he finally has to face what he has done. (This isn't the edition I read. My copy was published by MacMillan in the 1920s. I couldn't find that edition listed.)

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. It comes across as a little preachy, a little anti-capitalism (or at least anti-unregulated capitalism), but, considering when it was written, a worthy read.