An Unintentional Realist: Rural Poverty in Harold Bell Wright’s Ozarks Novels

This paper explores the theme of rural poverty in Harold Bell Wright’s Ozarks novels, a topic often overlooked due to the romantic, Arcadian lens through which Wright portrays the region. Despite his idealized depictions of simple, spiritually fulfilling rural life, Wright’s personal experiences with poverty and his observations of Ozarks life offer valuable insights into the economic deprivation and isolation of the area. The analysis focuses on The Shepherd of the Hills, The Re-Creation of Brian Kent, and Ma Cinderella, examining how Wright portrays rural poverty, the self-sufficiency of Ozark natives, and the effects of poverty on their lives. While primarily an outsider who romanticized the Ozarks, Wright’s fiction unintentionally serves as a social document, revealing the harsh realities faced by rural communities and the tension between rural idealism and survival.