diff --git a/python_jsonschema_objects/__init__.py b/python_jsonschema_objects/__init__.py
index a463ca2..65508b9 100644
--- a/python_jsonschema_objects/__init__.py
+++ b/python_jsonschema_objects/__init__.py
@@ -183,7 +183,13 @@ def validate(self, obj):
         except jsonschema.ValidationError as e:
             raise ValidationError(e)
 
-    def build_classes(self, strict=False, named_only=False, standardize_names=True):
+    def build_classes(
+        self,
+        strict=False,
+        named_only=False,
+        standardize_names=True,
+        any_of: typing.Optional[typing.Literal["use-first"]] = None,
+    ):
         """
         Build all of the classes named in the JSONSchema.
 
@@ -201,12 +207,15 @@ def build_classes(self, strict=False, named_only=False, standardize_names=True):
                 generated).
             standardize_names: (bool) If true (the default), class names will be
                 transformed by camel casing
+            any_of: (literal) If not set to None, defines the way anyOf clauses are resolved:
+                - 'use-first': Generate to the first matching schema in the list under the anyOf
+                - None: default behavior, anyOf is not supported in the schema
 
         Returns:
             A namespace containing all the generated classes
 
         """
-        kw = {"strict": strict}
+        kw = {"strict": strict, "any_of": any_of}
         builder = classbuilder.ClassBuilder(self.resolver)
         for nm, defn in six.iteritems(self.schema.get("definitions", {})):
             resolved = self.resolver.lookup("#/definitions/" + nm)
diff --git a/python_jsonschema_objects/classbuilder.py b/python_jsonschema_objects/classbuilder.py
index b099f2c..211b9c8 100644
--- a/python_jsonschema_objects/classbuilder.py
+++ b/python_jsonschema_objects/classbuilder.py
@@ -320,7 +320,6 @@ def validate(self):
         for prop, val in six.iteritems(self._properties):
             if val is None:
                 continue
-
             if isinstance(val, ProtocolBase):
                 val.validate()
             elif getattr(val, "isLiteralClass", None) is True:
@@ -502,9 +501,22 @@ def construct(self, uri, *args, **kw):
 
     def _construct(self, uri, clsdata, parent=(ProtocolBase,), **kw):
         if "anyOf" in clsdata:
-            raise NotImplementedError("anyOf is not supported as bare property")
+            if kw.get("any_of", None) is None:
+                raise NotImplementedError(
+                    "anyOf is not supported as bare property (workarounds available by setting any_of flag)"
+                )
+            if kw["any_of"] == "use-first":
+                # Patch so the first anyOf becomes a single oneOf
+                clsdata["oneOf"] = [
+                    clsdata["anyOf"].pop(0),
+                ]
+                del clsdata["anyOf"]
+            else:
+                raise NotImplementedError(
+                    f"anyOf workaround is not a recognized type (any_of = {kw['any_of']})"
+                )
 
-        elif "oneOf" in clsdata:
+        if "oneOf" in clsdata:
             """If this object itself has a 'oneOf' designation,
             then construct a TypeProxy.
             """
@@ -561,7 +573,7 @@ def _construct(self, uri, clsdata, parent=(ProtocolBase,), **kw):
                 uri,
                 item_constraint=clsdata_copy.pop("items"),
                 classbuilder=self,
-                **clsdata_copy
+                **clsdata_copy,
             )
             return self.resolved[uri]
 
@@ -699,6 +711,7 @@ def _build_object(self, nm, clsdata, parents, **kw):
                     else:
                         uri = "{0}/{1}_{2}".format(nm, prop, "<anonymous_field>")
                         try:
+                            # NOTE: Currently anyOf workaround is applied on import, not here for serialization
                             if "oneOf" in detail["items"]:
                                 typ = TypeProxy(
                                     self.construct_objects(
diff --git a/test/test_feature_51.py b/test/test_feature_51.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4716249
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_feature_51.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import pytest
+
+import python_jsonschema_objects as pjo
+
+
+def test_simple_array_anyOf():
+    basicSchemaDefn = {
+        "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#",
+        "title": "Test",
+        "properties": {"ExampleAnyOf": {"$ref": "#/definitions/exampleAnyOf"}},
+        "required": ["ExampleAnyOf"],
+        "type": "object",
+        "definitions": {
+            "exampleAnyOf": {
+                # "type": "string", "format": "email"
+                "anyOf": [
+                    {"type": "string", "format": "email"},
+                    {"type": "string", "maxlength": 0},
+                ]
+            }
+        },
+    }
+
+    builder = pjo.ObjectBuilder(basicSchemaDefn)
+
+    ns = builder.build_classes(any_of="use-first")
+    ns.Test().from_json('{"ExampleAnyOf" : "test@example.com"}')
+
+    with pytest.raises(pjo.ValidationError):
+        # Because string maxlength 0 is not selected, as we are using the first validation in anyOf:
+        ns.Test().from_json('{"ExampleAnyOf" : ""}')
+        # Because this does not match the email format:
+        ns.Test().from_json('{"ExampleAnyOf" : "not-an-email"}')
+
+    # Does it also work when not deserializing?
+    x = ns.Test()
+    with pytest.raises(pjo.ValidationError):
+        x.ExampleAnyOf = ""
+
+    with pytest.raises(pjo.ValidationError):
+        x.ExampleAnyOf = "not-an-email"
+
+    x.ExampleAnyOf = "test@example.com"
+    out = x.serialize()
+    y = ns.Test.from_json(out)
+    assert y.ExampleAnyOf == "test@example.com"
+
+
+def test_simple_array_anyOf_withoutConfig():
+    basicSchemaDefn = {
+        "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#",
+        "title": "Test",
+        "properties": {"ExampleAnyOf": {"$ref": "#/definitions/exampleAnyOf"}},
+        "required": ["ExampleAnyOf"],
+        "type": "object",
+        "definitions": {
+            "exampleAnyOf": {
+                # "type": "string", "format": "email"
+                "anyOf": [
+                    {"type": "string", "format": "email"},
+                    {"type": "string", "maxlength": 0},
+                ]
+            }
+        },
+    }
+
+    builder = pjo.ObjectBuilder(basicSchemaDefn)
+
+    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+        builder.build_classes()