Tom Kromer was an American author known mainly for his semi-autobiographical novel Waiting for Nothing. His realistic portrayal of Depression-era struggles offered readers a firsthand look into poverty and hardship during 1930s America.
If you enjoy reading books by Tom Kromer then you might also like the following authors:
Jack London's writing often captures the harsh realities faced by ordinary people surviving on society's margins. Fans of Tom Kromer's gritty realism and focus on poverty will appreciate London's honest depiction of struggle and survival.
His book The People of the Abyss offers an insightful look into poverty-stricken neighborhoods of early 20th-century London, highlighting the daily hardships and injustices faced by the urban poor.
John Steinbeck tells stories that honestly portray the experiences of working-class people and their hardships during difficult economic times.
Readers drawn to Tom Kromer's unflinching narratives about poverty and desperation will connect instantly with Steinbeck's style and subject matter.
His book The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of a family's desperate migration from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression, vividly depicting their struggles, hopes, and setbacks.
B. Traven's novels explore themes of injustice, economic exploitation, and working-class hardship. Like Tom Kromer, he depicts the harsh experiences of marginalized people facing tough realities.
Traven's novel The Death Ship follows a stateless sailor trapped aboard a decrepit ship, highlighting the exploitation and abuses faced by workers abandoned by society.
George Orwell's writing confronts social inequality and poverty with clear-eyed vision and personal empathy. Tom Kromer fans will appreciate Orwell's honest and direct style, along with his critique of social injustice.
In Down and Out in Paris and London, Orwell documents his own experiences living in poverty, offering a compelling firsthand account of surviving day-to-day scarcity.
Edward Dahlberg's writing offers an honest and stark portrayal of life marked by poverty, hardship, and displacement. Dahlberg and Tom Kromer share similar raw narrative approaches to exploring the darker sides of urban life and economic struggle.
Dahlberg's autobiographical novel, Bottom Dogs, reflects vividly and openly on the harshness of his impoverished youth and the reality of growing up abandoned and searching for identity.
Nelson Algren tells stories of people on society's margins with honesty and empathy. His writing often highlights the struggles of the poor and forgotten in urban America.
Readers who appreciate Tom Kromer's stark and truthful style may enjoy Algren's The Man with the Golden Arm, a powerful story about addiction and despair set among Chicago's underclass.
Meridel Le Sueur writes with compassion about working-class life, particularly the challenges women face in harsh economic times. Like Tom Kromer, her work offers an unflinching portrayal of poverty and hardship.
Her book, The Girl, follows a young woman navigating survival and struggle during the Great Depression.
Henry Roth's novels capture the experiences of immigration, poverty, and the search for belonging. His narrative style is vivid and direct, resonating with Kromer's frank depiction of hard realities.
Roth's most notable novel, Call It Sleep, tells a compelling story about a young immigrant boy adapting to life in 20th-century New York City with honesty and sensitivity.
Albert Halper writes realistic accounts of individuals dealing with economic hardship, especially during tough times like the Great Depression. His style is sincere and understated, much like Kromer's authentic portrayals.
In his novel Union Square, Halper explores the daily lives and dreams of working-class people in New York, revealing their struggles and resilience.
Pietro di Donato paints an honest and often harsh picture of immigrant life in America through straightforward, vigorous writing. His themes closely parallel Kromer's explorations of poverty and the fight to survive against odds.
His acclaimed novel, Christ in Concrete, vividly portrays the hardships of Italian-American construction workers and their families after tragedy strikes.
Tillie Olsen writes passionately about everyday struggles and working-class lives. Her writing is thoughtful and compassionate, often highlighting the overlooked hardships of ordinary people.
In her book Yonnondio: From the Thirties, Olsen follows the Holbrook family's attempts to survive poverty during the Depression era. Readers who appreciate Tom Kromer’s honest portrayal of hardship will also value Olsen’s empathy and realism.
Jack Conroy captures the stark realities faced by working-class Americans. His style is direct and straightforward, bringing to life the challenges of labor and poverty in vivid, realistic scenes.
Conroy's novel The Disinherited portrays workers struggling through economic desperation with clarity and honesty. If you connect with Tom Kromer’s unflinching descriptions of tough times, Conroy will resonate deeply.
James T. Farrell offers detailed portrayals of ordinary people battling social and economic pressures. His narratives often spotlight characters facing moral dilemmas in a harsh urban environment.
The book Studs Lonigan examines the life of a young man in Chicago whose dreams clash with harsh realities. Readers who enjoy Tom Kromer’s gritty depiction of life's hardships will appreciate Farrell's own realistic, clear-eyed view of America.
Mike Gold writes passionately about social injustice, poverty, and working-class struggles. His style is forceful and unapologetic, aimed directly at exposing inequality.
The autobiographical novel Jews Without Money vividly describes Gold's youth in New York’s Lower East Side, capturing the fierce resilience of immigrants surviving poverty. Fans of Tom Kromer will appreciate Gold’s authentic style and genuine storytelling.
Agnes Smedley creates stirring narratives about people fighting difficult odds and harsh conditions. Her direct, energetic style brings international and political struggles into clear focus.
The semi-autobiographical novel Daughter of Earth charts a woman's journey from rural poverty to active revolution, reflecting on inequality and injustice.
Readers fond of Tom Kromer’s compassionate yet realistic storytelling will find much to admire in Smedley’s courageous voice.