William Dean Howells

Broschiertes Buch

The Rise of Silas Lapham

Beschreibung

William Dean Howells' richly humorous characterization of a self-made millionaire in Boston society provides a paradigm of American culture in the Gilded Age. After establishing a fortune in the paint business, Silas Lapham moves his family from their Vermont farm to the city of Boston, where they awkwardly attempt to break into Brahmin society. Silas, greedy for wealth as well as prestige, brings his company to the brink of bankruptcy, and the family is forced to return to Vermont, financially ruined but morally renewed. As Kermit Vanderbilt points out in his introduction, the novel focuses on important themes in the American literary tradition: the efficacy of self-help and determination, the ambiguous benefits of social and economic progress, and the continual contradiction between urban and pastoral values. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Autor

Many people refer to William Dean Howells (1837-1920) as "The Dean of American Letters." He was an American author, literary critic, and editor. Howells, an Ohio native born in Martins Ferry, was a major influence on American writing in the late 19th and early 20th century. During this pivotal time, the United States' shifting social and cultural milieu is reflected in his works. After working as, a journalist for a while, Howells became an editor for a number of well-known literary journals, including the Atlantic Monthly. He was a fervent supporter of literary realism, highlighting the representation of common life and actual people overcoming obstacles in their daily lives. Howells remained dedicated to civic involvement and social transformation throughout his career. As a result of his prolific output, which includes plays, novels, essays, and poetry, he became well-known in the American literary community. In addition to his own literary accomplishments, William Dean Howells' influence may be seen in the way he shaped and promoted the writings of other significant figures in his day.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group
• Seitenzahl: 402
• Erscheinungstermin: 28. April 1983
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 197mm x 129mm x 22mm
• Gewicht: 424g
• ISBN-13: 9780140390308
• ISBN-10: 0140390308
• Artikelnr.: 22423451