Subject
Children of the rich -- Fiction Books
Best books
Thomas Hardy
Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman
"Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman" by Thomas Hardy is a novel published in 1891. When a poor country girl discovers her family descends from an ancient noble line, she's sent to claim kinship with wealthy relatives. There she encounters Alec d'Urberville, whose attentions lead to tragedy. Later, working as a milkmaid, Tess finds love with Angel Clare, but her past haunts their future. Set in rural England, this story challenged Victorian morality and explores innocence, guilt, and the harsh judgments society places on women.
Jane Austen
Mansfield Park
"Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen is a novel first published in 1814. Ten-year-old Fanny Price is sent from her impoverished home to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle at Mansfield Park, where she endures years of mistreatment. As she grows into adulthood, Fanny navigates complex family dynamics, romantic entanglements, and moral dilemmas. When the charming Henry Crawford pursues her, Fanny must decide between social advancement and her own principles, while those around her make choices that will test their values and reshape their lives.
F. Scott (Francis Scott) Fitzgerald
This Side of Paradise
"This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel published in 1920. It follows Amory Blaine, a handsome Princeton student who pursues literature and romance while searching for his destined purpose. Through failed love affairs with debutantes and flappers, wartime service, and financial setbacks, Amory confronts the emptiness of ambition corrupted by greed and social climbing. The novel captures American youth at the dawn of the Jazz Age, exploring their revolt against traditional values and their disillusionment with contemporary society.
Lloyd Osbourne
Infatuation
"Infatuation" by Lloyd Osbourne is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Phyllis Ladd, a young woman navigating the complexities of love, relationships, and societal expectations following the death of her mother. As she grows up in a wealthy family, Phyllis experiences a series of pivotal moments that influence her understanding of love and the men around her. At the start of the narrative, we see Phyllis as a child grappling with the loss of her mother, which brings her closer to her father, Robert T. R. Ladd, a prominent railway president. Their close relationship fosters a blend of innocence and maturity within Phyllis, as she transitions from childhood to young adulthood. The opening chapters introduce her inner conflict about love as her father becomes a protective figure in her life. As she matures, Phyllis's search for a worthy partner leads her to reject two suitors, J. Whitlock Pastor and Captain Baron Sempft von Piller, setting the stage for an exploration of her desires and the intricate nature of romantic relationships. This narrative highlights the struggle between societal norms, personal aspirations, and the quest for genuine connection, making it an intriguing read for those interested in character-driven stories about love and identity.
P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
The Girl on the Boat
"The Girl on the Boat" by P. G. Wodehouse is a novel published in 1922. Red-haired Billie Bennett finds herself aboard an ocean liner bound for England, accompanied by three men vying for her attention: her long-suffering suitor Bream Mortimer, shy poet Eustace Hignett who is secretly engaged to her, and Eustace's dashing cousin Sam Marlowe who falls for Billie at first sight. Comic complications ensue when another capable young woman enters the picture with her own romantic designs.
Booth Tarkington
The Magnificent Ambersons
"The Magnificent Ambersons" by Booth Tarkington is a novel published in 1918. Set in Indianapolis, it traces three generations of the aristocratic Amberson family from the Civil War to the early twentieth century. As America industrializes, the family's prestige and wealth fade while new industrial fortunes rise. At the center is young George Amberson Minafer, spoiled and arrogant, whose actions threaten his mother's happiness and his own future with Lucy Morgan. The novel won the 1919 Pulitzer Prize.
Rudyard Kipling
"Captains Courageous": A Story of the Grand Banks
"Captains Courageous": A Story of the Grand Banks by Rudyard Kipling is a novel published in 1897. It follows fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., a spoiled railroad tycoon's son, who is rescued from drowning by an American fishing schooner. Unable to convince the crew of his wealth or persuade them to return to port quickly, Harvey must work alongside them on the Grand Banks. Through trials and adventures at sea, the pampered boy gradually transforms, learning the rugged ways of the cod fishery and discovering unexpected strength within himself.
Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Shuttle
"The Shuttle" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a novel published in 1907. When wealthy American heiress Rosalie Vanderpoel marries an impoverished English nobleman, she disappears from her family's life, trapped in isolation at a crumbling estate. Years later, her strong-willed sister Bettina crosses the Atlantic to investigate, discovering Rosalie's grim situation. As Bettina works to restore both her sister and the neglected manor, she navigates English society and encounters a proud but impoverished lord, setting the stage for confrontation with Rosalie's controlling husband.
Rudyard Kipling
"Captains Courageous": A Story of the Grand Banks
"Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks" by Rudyard Kipling is a novel published in 1897. When fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., the pampered son of a railroad tycoon, falls overboard from a steamship, he's rescued by a fishing schooner off the Grand Banks. Unable to convince the crew of his wealth or persuade them to take him home, Harvey must work alongside the fishermen for an entire season at sea, learning hard lessons about labor, humility, and manhood in the unforgiving world of the cod fishery.
Cosmo Hamilton
Scandal : $b A novel
"Scandal: A Novel" by Cosmo Hamilton is a fictional narrative written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Beatrix Vanderdyke, a wealthy and beautiful debutante navigating the complexities of high society in New York. Her relationships with a controversial portrait painter, Sutherland York, and the socially prominent Pelham Franklin set the stage for the unfolding drama of scandal and romance. The opening portion of the novel introduces Beatrix as she is spotted out and about with Sutherland York, provoking the curiosity and concern of her peers. This initial glimpse reveals Beatrix as a figure of beauty, privilege, and discontent, eager to assert her independence. As she interacts with York, whose seductive charm complicates her life further, the tension between societal expectation and personal desire becomes palpable. The conversations around her suggest a deeper conflict brewing, hinting at the potential for scandal that may well up from her unorthodox choices.
Charles Eustace Merriman
Letters from a Son to His Self-Made Father Being the Replies to Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son
"Letters from a Son to His Self-Made Father" by Charles Eustace Merriman is a collection of humorous epistolary letters written in the early 20th century. The book follows Pierrepont Graham, a college student at Harvard, as he writes to his father, John Graham, a self-made merchant in Chicago, discussing his life experiences, studies, and personal mishaps during his formative years. The letters reflect the generational divide between the father's practical, business-oriented perspective and the son's more whimsical and introspective view of life and education. The opening of the book introduces Pierrepont and sets the tone for his correspondence with his father. In his first letter, he describes the challenges of adjusting to college life, contrasting the expectations of his father's business acumen with the reality of his own experiences at Harvard. He humorously recounts the delivery of mundane but socially awkward situations, such as dealing with the unappetizing food linked to his father's company and the pressures of maintaining his family's reputation while navigating the social scene. Through witty observations and reflections on various amusing encounters, Pierrepont establishes a character that is both relatable and endearing, thereby inviting readers to join him in his journey of self-discovery and familial connection.
Booth Tarkington
The Turmoil: A Novel
"The Turmoil: A Novel" by Booth Tarkington is a work of fiction written during the early 20th century. The story is set in a rapidly growing and industrializing midland city, exploring themes of societal change, ambition, wealth, and the clash between old values and modernity. At the heart of the narrative is the Sheridan family, particularly focusing on the contrast between the ambitious father, James Sheridan, and his introspective son, Bibbs, who struggles with the expectations placed upon him. The opening of the novel introduces the reader to a contrasting picture of the changing city—from a clean and pleasant town to a bustling, smoky metropolis driven by the pursuit of wealth and growth. Through vivid imagery, Tarkington paints the city as a living entity, characterized by its ambition and the people who embody its chaos. As we meet the Sheridans, the focus shifts to James's pride in his achievements and wealth, juxtaposed with Bibbs's frail constitution and dissatisfaction with their lifestyle. This dynamic reveals the complex relationships within the family and sets the stage for themes of personal conflict and societal critique that are explored throughout the novel.
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