Oedipus Max: An American Family

A fourteen -year-old immigrant came to Ellis Island by himself in 1906 and was sent back to Lithuania. This strong personality landed in Boston a few months later to begin to learn English and the retail grocery business. By the end of 1918 he was a United States citizen, had married a 1913 Chelsea High School graduate, had his own store and his first son. This is the story of Max and Lillian Bennett, the Norwood Market, and three sons and a daughter. We get an intimate view of life in a retail market in the 30’s through the 50’s in a small town north of Boston. The conflict comes when it is clear that the sons do not want a life in business.