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1. What importance does the setting of American Rust play in the story?

The setting of American Rust is essential in understanding the characters, mood and overarching message of the novel. The author uses the real-life historical disintegration of Pennsylvania's steel industry to paint a picture of a town and its inhabitants, who are broken, lost, impoverished, and decaying.

2. How is Isaac English described when his character is introduced in Book One? What are Isaac's circumstances in the beginning of the novel?

Isaac English is twenty years old and is living in Buell, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He is smart, small, wispy and easily mistaken for a boy. At the beginning of the novel, Isaac is leaving home after having stolen $4,000 dollars from his father, whom he refers to as the “old man.”

3. Where does Isaac plan to travel in Book One? Why?

Isaac's plan is to travel to Pittsburgh and then on to California to escape his father and his own frustrating life in Buell. Because steel was at the heart of Buell's economy, the city is now dilapidated and decaying. Isaac first travels to the house of his best friend, 21-year-old Billy Poe.

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