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American author Harold Frederic tackles the complexities of late-nineteenth-century capitalism in this thought-provoking novel. Antihero Joel Thorpe is an archetypal example of the rags-to-riches success story, but rather than relying solely on pluck and hard work, Thorpe gleefully cheats and steals in the process of amassing his fortune. It's a nuanced look at the changing face of industry during a key transitional period in history.

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1 review
Tiresome.

The exposition is long, rambling and not illuminating. It reveals Thorpe as under-handed, amoral, and a raving anti-Semite. Does not appear to resolve in any acceptable way.

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14+ Works 702 Members
Journalist and author Harold Frederic was born in Utica, New York on August 19, 1856. He decided to become a journalist and was editor of the Albany Evening Journal by 1882. In 1884, he became a London correspondent for the New York Times. He covered the cholera epidemic in France and Italy and went to Russia to investigate the persecution of the show more Jews. Besides working as a journalist, he wrote numerous novels that dealt with such topics as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, New York state, and English life. The Damnation of Theron Ware or Illumination, about the decline and fall of a Methodist minister, was his most famous work. He died in England on October 19, 1898 following a summer of illness that ended with a stroke. After his death, his mistress Kate Lyon and Athalie Mills, were arrested and charged with manslaughter for trying to heal him through faith instead of calling for a doctor. They were later acquitted. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

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Common Knowledge

Original publication date
1898
First words
The battle was over, and the victor remained on the field - sitting alone with the hurly-burly of his thoughts.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
DDC/MDS
813.4Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in EnglishLater 19th Century 1861-1900
LCC
PS1705Language and LiteratureAmerican literatureAmerican literatureIndividual authors19th century
BISAC

Statistics

Members
11
Popularity
1,994,785
Reviews
1
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
23
ASINs
3