THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM (Unabridged)

THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM (Unabridged)

Author: William Dean Howells

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2024-01-10

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13:

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William Dean Howells' masterpiece, 'The Rise of Silas Lapham,' is a thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of social mobility and morality in 19th-century America. Set in the post-Civil War era, the book follows the rise and fall of the titular character, Silas Lapham, a self-made man who becomes entangled in the world of high society. Howells' writing style is characterized by its realism and attention to detail, offering readers a vivid portrayal of the societal norms and values of the time. The novel's exploration of wealth, class, and personal integrity makes it a compelling read for those interested in American literature and historical fiction. William Dean Howells, known for his contributions to the literary realism movement, drew inspiration from his own experiences as a journalist and editor. As a keen observer of society, Howells used his writing to critique the social injustices and moral dilemmas of his time. 'The Rise of Silas Lapham' reflects Howells' belief in the power of literature to provoke thought and inspire change. I highly recommend 'The Rise of Silas Lapham' to readers who appreciate nuanced character development and insightful social commentary. This unabridged edition offers a comprehensive look at Howells' seminal work, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of American society during the Gilded Age.


The Rise of Silas Lapham

The Rise of Silas Lapham

Author: William Dean Howells

Publisher: Standard Ebooks

Published: 2023-08-11T19:42:17Z

Total Pages: 418

ISBN-13:

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Silas Lapham’s long-lasting paint, made with minerals found on his family’s farm in Vermont, has helped make him a millionaire—as has hard work, ambition, and tough business sense. Now that he’s reached late middle age, he’s a success. A newspaper is writing him up in its “Solid Men of Boston” series, his family goes to seaside resorts in the summer, the scion of the aristocratic Covey family has joined his firm, his daughters have made inroads into 1880s society, and he’s even having a lavish house built in the newly-fashionable Back Bay. But it’s all too good to last. Soon the Laphams must deal with long-simmering temptations that exist because of a ruthless decision made when his company was getting off the ground. Will they avoid a fall? In 1885, when The Rise of Silas Lapham was published, William Dean Howells was in the middle of his own career. The novel remains his best-known work, enduring in no small part because of its portrayal of the self-made man and the problems that success and competition bring. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.


THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM (Unabridged): American Classic

THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM (Unabridged): American Classic

Author: William Dean Howells

Publisher: E-Artnow

Published: 2019-04-15

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 9788027332410

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In Howells' maybe the most famous novel, The Rise of Silas Lapham, the story follows the materialistic rise of Silas Lapham from rags to riches, and his ensuing moral susceptibility. Silas earns a fortune in the paint business, but he lacks social standards, which he tries to attain through his daughter's marriage into the aristocratic Corey family. Silas' morality does not fail him. He loses his money but makes the right moral decision when his partner proposes the unethical selling of the mills to English settlers. The resolution of the love triangle of Irene Lapham, Tom Corey, and Penelope Lapham highlights Howells' rejection of the conventions of sentimental romantic novels as unrealistic and deceitful. William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was an American realist author, literary critic, and playwright. He was the first American author to bring a realist aesthetic to the literature of the United States. His stories of Boston upper crust life set in the 1850s are highly regarded among scholars of American fiction.