A Hazard of New Fortunes
What is A Hazard of New Fortunes about?
A Hazard of New Fortunes (1890) is William Dean Howells’s most ambitious novel, a panoramic portrait of New York City during a period of explosive growth and social upheaval. Basil March moves from Boston to edit a new literary magazine, and the novel follows a large cast of characters representing different social classes, political views, and moral positions as they converge around a streetcar workers’ strike. Howells creates a vivid portrait of Gilded Age America’s class tensions and moral contradictions.
Main themes in A Hazard of New Fortunes
Gilded Age New York
The presence of gilded age new york in A Hazard of New Fortunes connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Class tensions
In A Hazard of New Fortunes, class tensions provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Labor strike
Labor strike emerges as a defining element in A Hazard of New Fortunes, shaping character development.
Literary life
In A Hazard of New Fortunes, literary life provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Why A Hazard of New Fortunes is still relevant today
Howells’s most ambitious novel offers a panoramic portrait of Gilded Age New York that resonates with contemporary concerns about inequality. Read it free online on TextStack.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Hazard of New Fortunes about?
A panoramic novel following diverse characters in Gilded Age New York as they converge around a streetcar strike, exploring class tensions and moral contradictions.
Where can I read it online?
You can read A Hazard of New Fortunes by William Dean Howells free online on TextStack.