The Romance of a Plain Man

"The Romance of a Plain Man" by Ellen Glasgow is a story that begins with Ben Starr, a boy from a poor family in Richmond, experiencing the ups and downs of growing up. Told through Ben's eyes, the story looks at the big ideas of being innocent, wanting more, and the search for beauty and a place to fit in when life is tough. The book starts on a stormy night in October, showing Ben joking around with his dad and giving a peek into their uncomplicated family life. The arrival of a strange woman and her daughter, Sally, interrupts their normal life, bringing in the problem of social class differences that will change Ben's life. When Sally calls Ben "common," it makes him want to be better than his situation, which kicks off his battles with who he is and what he wants to be. The beginning of the story hints at how Ben's surroundings will influence his path as the story progresses.