Subject
Political corruption -- Fiction Books
Best books
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today
"The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today" by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel published in 1873. It follows a poor rural family's attempts to strike it rich by selling their vast Tennessee land, while their adopted daughter Laura becomes a Washington lobbyist seeking congressional support. Meanwhile, two young men pursue fortune through land speculation. The novel skewers the greed, materialism, and political corruption of post-Civil War America—so effectively that it named an entire era of American history.
Holman Day
The Landloper: The Romance of a Man on Foot
“The Landloper: The Romance of a Man on Foot” by Holman Day is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Walker Farr, a young man who travels on foot along a country road, embodying the essence of a wanderer or “landloper” with no fixed destination. His adventures and interactions with various characters reveal his outlook on life, as well as themes of individuality versus societal norms. At the start of the novel, Walker Farr meanders down a dusty highway, showing both a carefree spirit and a degree of aloofness. He encounters a suspicious farmer who assumes him to be a vagrant, leading to a humorous exchange. Walker primarily seems detached from the societal expectations as he interacts with a wealthy automobile owner and a young woman named Kat Kilgour, whom he finds captivating. Their brief yet profound encounter leaves a lasting impression on him. As he continues his journey, he reflects on the simplicity of life and the burdens of societal expectations, giving readers a glimpse into his philosophical musings and the unique characters he meets along the way.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 7.
"The Gilded Age, Part 7" by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel published in 1873. It exposes greed and corruption in post-Civil War America through intertwined stories of families chasing wealth through land speculation. A poor rural family attempts to sell their vast Tennessee acreage, while their adopted daughter Laura becomes a Washington lobbyist. Meanwhile, two young men pursue fortune through land surveying. The novel satirizes political corruption and social pretensions, ultimately giving an entire era its name.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 6.
"The Gilded Age, Part 6." by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel first published in 1873. This collaborative work follows a poor rural family's attempts to gain wealth by selling their vast Tennessee landholdings. Their adopted daughter Laura becomes a Washington lobbyist, navigating a world of political corruption and social ambition. Meanwhile, two young men seek fortune through land speculation. The novel satirizes the greed, materialism, and political corruption of post-Civil War America—giving an entire era its enduring name.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 2.
"The Gilded Age, Part 2." by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel published in 1873. The story follows a poor rural family's attempts to sell their vast Tennessee landholdings, focusing on their adopted daughter Laura, who becomes a Washington lobbyist seeking congressional support. Meanwhile, two young men pursue land speculation fortunes. This collaboration between Twain and Warner satirizes the greed, political corruption, and social pretensions of post-Civil War America, giving an entire era its enduring name.
Holman Day
All-Wool Morrison Time -- Today, Place -- the United States, Period of Action -- Twenty-four Hours
"All-Wool Morrison" by Holman Day is a novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story is set in contemporary American life, focusing on the character of Stewart Morrison, the mayor of Marion, a city punctuated by political tension and a rapidly changing social landscape. The narrative unveils Morrison's struggles with the expectations placed upon him as a public figure, the pressures of his business heritage, and his complex feelings towards local politics and personal relationships. The beginning of the novel introduces the crucial day when the new legislative session commences, capturing the bustling atmosphere at St. Ronan's mill where Morrison works. We meet various characters who surround Morrison, including the steadfast Mac Tavish, his paymaster, and the ambitious Colonel Shaw, who calls for Morrison against the mill's traditional rule of only allowing visitors once he has come from work. The story sets up a brewing conflict as Morrison, known for his adherence to business principles, navigates the politically charged environment while grappling with his burgeoning feelings for Lana Corson, who has returned to Marion amidst this turmoil. The stage is set for a dramatic exploration of duty, ambition, and personal connection in an evolving society.
Leroy Scott
Counsel for the Defense
"Counsel for the Defense" by Leroy Scott is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in the fictional town of Westville and revolves around Dr. David West, who finds himself embroiled in a scandal when he is accused of accepting a bribe in relation to the town's new water-works project. His daughter, Katherine, a young woman recently returned home, takes it upon herself to defend her father against these charges, facing societal pressures and challenges along the way. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to the character of Arnold Bruce, the editor of the local newspaper, the "Express", who is preparing for a celebration of Westville’s new municipal project. The atmosphere is one of excitement and community pride, but this is soon overshadowed by the shocking news of Dr. West's arrest for the alleged bribery. Katherine arrives home to learn of her father's predicament, which takes her by surprise and sets her on a determined path to prove his innocence. Her journey as a fledgling lawyer unfolds amidst skepticism from the townsfolk, the complexities of the legal system, and her interactions with significant figures, including the disapproving Bruce. The opening chapters set the stage for a gripping courtroom drama, framed by themes of loyalty, integrity, and the fight against injustice.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 5.
"The Gilded Age, Part 5" by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel published in 1873. This collaboration exposes greed and political corruption in post-Civil War America through the story of a struggling rural family attempting to profit from a vast land inheritance. As the beautiful adopted daughter Laura navigates Washington society as a lobbyist, and ambitious young men pursue fortune through land speculation, the novel reveals how the thirst for wealth and power corrupts every level of society—ultimately giving this notorious era its enduring name.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 1.
"The Gilded Age, Part 1." by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel published in 1873. It follows a rural family's desperate attempts to strike it rich by selling their vast Tennessee landholdings in post-Civil War America. Their adopted daughter Laura becomes a Washington lobbyist, navigating a world of corrupt politicians and social climbers. Meanwhile, two young men pursue their own fortunes through land speculation. The novel satirizes the greed, materialism, and political corruption that would define an entire era of American history.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 4.
"The Gilded Age, Part 4." by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel first published in 1873. Set in post-Civil War America, this collaboration skewers greed and political corruption through the story of the Hawkins family's quest for wealth through land speculation. At the center is Laura Hawkins, who becomes a Washington lobbyist, and two young men seeking fortune through land investment. With memorable characters like the eternally optimistic Colonel Beriah Sellers, the novel exposes the moral decay beneath America's glittering surface—giving an entire era its lasting name.
Mark Twain
The Gilded Age, Part 3.
"The Gilded Age, Part 3." by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner is a satirical novel published in 1873. It follows a poor rural family's attempts to gain wealth by selling their vast land holdings, while their adopted daughter Laura becomes a Washington lobbyist seeking congressional support. A parallel story tracks two young men pursuing fortune through land speculation. The novel satirizes the greed, corruption, and social pretensions of post-Civil War America, ultimately giving this entire era of American history its enduring name.
W. A. Wilkins
The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life
"The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life" by W. A. Wilkins is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative centers around the ambitious political machinations of Darius Hamblin, a New York State Senator, and the personal struggles of his daughter, Belle Hamblin. The book examines themes of political power, social class, and familial loyalty amid the backdrop of dramatic events at Lake George. The opening of the novel introduces the picturesque setting of Lake George and presents the Hamblin family, particularly focusing on the conflict between Darius's political ambitions and Belle's personal desires. Belle is depicted as a compassionate young woman who saves her younger brother from drowning, earning the admiration of George Alden, a bank officer. However, her father's pride and ambition pose challenges to her romantic feelings for George. As political tensions rise with a rival candidate named Daley seeking to undermine Darius's position, the story hints at conflicts that will intertwine personal and political stakes through the characters’ interactions and dilemmas.
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