The Romance of a Plain Man

In Short

Set in late-nineteenth-century Richmond, Virginia, this Gilded Age novel follows Ben Starr, an uneducated laborer’s son who rises from poverty to become a wealthy industrialist and bank president. Driven by pride and an early passion for Sally Mickleborough, a maiden of gentle birth, Ben relentlessly conquers the business world. Yet his devotion to financial ambition comes at the expense of his marriage, straining his domestic life and widening the gap between his lower-class roots and his wife’s aristocratic heritage. The story endures as a sharp examination of ambition, class barriers, and the hidden emotional costs of material success.

The Story

The narrative begins in a modest Richmond home, where young Ben Starr grows up under the influence of his working-class family and an encounter with General Bolingbroke, a railroad president who inspires him to seek an education and make something of himself. After his mother dies, Ben sets out into the world, taking odd jobs and studying books supplied through the sacrifices of his brother President. Early in his youth, he meets Sally Mickleborough, a girl from an impoverished but proud aristocratic family raised by her traditional aunts, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca. Though her family views Ben as a social inferior, Ben vows to build a fortune that will tear down the social barriers dividing them.

Through shrewd investments in manufacturing and mining, Ben begins his rapid ascent. His financial success allows him to enter society and win Sally’s hand, despite the quiet disapproval of her family and the persistent presence of her cousin George Bolingbroke, a man who naturally possesses the refined heritage Ben lacks. Once married, Ben’s obsession with securing his fortune deepens. He throws himself into corporate deals and bank management, believing that material wealth is the ultimate gift he can offer his wife.

As Ben’s career flourishes, his marriage steadily deteriorates. Sally finds herself isolated in a world of luxury that lacks genuine connection, while Ben remains blind to her emotional needs, mistaking expensive gifts and social standing for devotion. When a national financial panic strikes, Ben’s speculative ventures crumble, bringing down his bank and wiping out his personal fortune. Stripped of his wealth and burdened with massive debt, he is forced to move back into modest lodgings and accept humbler work.

In the wake of financial ruin, Ben faces his greatest trial: recognizing that his intense rivalry with George Bolingbroke and his fixation on wealth were driven by vanity rather than true love. As Sally suffers from physical exhaustion and illness, Ben finally sees the emptiness of his past pursuits and chooses to rebuild his life around personal integrity and devotion to his wife.

How It Unfolds

The spark of ambition Young Ben Starr grows up in a working-class Richmond household and resolves to rise above his humble origin after meeting General Bolingbroke. Following his mother's sudden death, he enters the working world with a determination to educate himself and build a career.

An early attachment Ben meets Sally Mickleborough as a child and falls in love with her despite their vast social distance. Sally’s aristocratic aunts view Ben as a common boy, driving him to use financial success as his ultimate weapon against their prejudice.

Rising through the ranks Working tirelessly and investing his early earnings in promising ventures, Ben climbs the ladder of the business world. His rapid financial triumphs earn him respect in trade circles and the capital needed to step into upper-class society.

Winning the bride Ben declares his love to Sally, who returns his affection despite the misgivings of her family. They marry, but the contrast between Ben's self-made aggression and the effortless gentility of Sally's cousin George creates an lingering underlying tension.

The toll of prosperity As bank president, Ben becomes entirely consumed by business speculation and the pursuit of greater riches. His absorption in work causes him to forget personal anniversaries and neglect Sally’s emotional well-being, leaving her lonely in their luxurious home.

The ruinous crash A major market panic wipes out the bank's reserves and destroys Ben’s personal fortune. Reduced to severe poverty and heavy debt, Ben must relinquish his high office and accept the harsh reality of starting over from the bottom.

A harsh awakening Facing poverty alongside Sally, Ben realizes that his drive for money had endangered his marriage more than failure ever could. After a sudden illness brings Sally to the brink of collapse, Ben abandons his pride and recommits himself entirely to her care and their shared future.

The People

• Ben Starr: A driven, self-made man from Church Hill who works his way up from street boy to bank president. He wants to overcome his humble origin and win Sally's heart, but his obsession with wealth nearly destroys his personal life.
• Sally Mickleborough Starr: An aristocratic woman who marries Ben out of genuine love, brushing aside class prejudices. She desires emotional closeness and mutual trust, but suffers from Ben's constant absorption in business and the loss of her personal independence.
• General Bolingbroke: A Civil War veteran and railroad president who serves as Ben's mentor and patron, encouraging the young man's ambition while offering practical wisdom on life and finance.
• George Bolingbroke: Sally’s cousin, who embodies the inherited ease and aristocratic manners that Ben lacks. He remains a helpful yet troubling presence in Sally and Ben's lives, often stepping in when Ben neglects his household.
• President Starr: Ben’s older brother, a plain, uneducated worker who starves himself of opportunity so Ben and their sister can receive an education and a chance at a better life.
• Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca Mickleborough: Sally’s maiden aunts, who preserve their refined family traditions despite their reduced wealth, continuously harboring doubts about Ben's suitability for their niece.

In Its Own Voice

"Times change and fames change almost as quickly. When all is said, however, there may be more lasting honour in building a country's trade than in winning a battle." General Bolingbroke reflects on his past military career while offering advice on ambition to young Ben Starr.

"A delicate bow, indeed! Those full, sensitive lips that showed like a splash of carmine in the clear pallor of her face!" Ben compares the refined social ideal of womanhood to the vivid memory of the girl he loves.

"Whenever I see a man step on ahead of me in the race, I say to myself, 'Thar goes an eddication. It's the eddication in him that's a-movin' an' not the man.'" President Starr encourages his younger brother to pursue learning through books despite their poverty.

What It's Really About

The novel explores the clash between old-money aristocracy and the emerging self-made merchant class in the post-Reconstruction South. It questions whether material success can ever truly bridge social divides or replace genuine human connection. At its core, the narrative argues that relentless ambition, when fueled by pride and a desire to prove one's worth to elite society, blinds a man to the quiet needs of those he seeks to protect. True strength is shown to lie not in financial conquest, but in humility, sacrifice, and domestic fidelity.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in Gilded Age social dynamics and stories of self-made ambition will appreciate this grounded portrait of turn-of-the-century Richmond. The text effectively captures the tension between traditional Southern heritage and the aggressive expansion of modern business, presenting a honest look at how economic pressures shape personal relationships.

While the narrative occasionally features period dialect and deliberate pacing typical of early-twentieth-century fiction, it remains compelling through its sharp characterizations and psychological insight. It offers a realistic, unsentimental reflection on the true cost of financial success that remains surprisingly relevant.