This classic novel, originally published in 1885, is considered by many to be the first publication of its kind to present the life of an American businessman in terms that were real and unvarnished. The story centers upon the career of a millionaire industrialist, working and striving to achieve success and worldly acclaim during the post-Civil War years. William Dean Howells probes the moral and social perils that confront those who are influenced by a culture that is driven by elements of greed and blind ambition. Although the world of business has changed in many ways since the late 1800's, readers will be reminded that there is truly "nothing new under the sun.' This reprint of a famous novel does indeed continue to convey timeless and valuable insights regarding what it means to be a true gentleman. A recommended resource for those students following the Notgrass Exploring Economics curriculum plan. 360 pgs, pb. ~ Mike
The Rise of Silas Lapham was the first important novel to center on the American businessman and the first to treat its theme with a realism that foreshadowed the work of modern writers. In his story of one of the millionaire industrialists who flourished in the post-Civil War years, William Dean Howells probes the moral and social conflicts that confront a self-made man trying to crash Bostons old-guard aristocracy. Silas Lapham is a man of conscience who fully realizes his folly; but he is also an ambitious man who lets his aspirations lead him to risk both his fortune and his familys happiness for status in a society that will never truly accept him.
It looked interesting!