Winesburg, Ohio is Sherwood Anderson's signature work of fiction, a loose collection of portrayals of life in the midwestern US at the turn of the 20th century. Published in 1919, it was an important influence on Hemingway, Faulkner, and other young writers of the era. This Cliffs Notes contribution provides a reasonable critical analysis of the novel. It summarizes the life and career of Sherwood Anderson; the novel's setting and major characters; its critical acceptance; and Anderson's writing style. Most of this small book offers critical commentary on each of the individual chapters in Winesburg, by considering their content, themes, and underlying meaning. I have long appreciated Winesburg, Ohio and this Cliffs Notes summary and analysis gave me a somewhat better appreciation of the book and its place in American literature. ( )