022 - fortunes howells

In Hazard of New Fortunes, Howell transports us to the bustling streets of late nineteenth-century New York, a city alive with the essence of Edith Wharton and Henry James. The story follows Basil March, a Boston businessman with a passion for literature, as he relocates with his family to edit a newly founded journal. Their new venture is financially backed by Mr. Dryfoos, a Pennsylvania Dutch farmer turned millionaire after striking natural gas on his land. Now navigating the opulent lifestyle of New York, Dryfoos grapples with the perils of his newfound wealth. But is it his fortune that poses the greatest risk, or is it the rapid transformation of New York City during the Gilded Age? As March and Howell delve deeper into the citys social and economic contradictions, they encounter a rich tapestry of characters—from Dryfooss ambitious children to a German socialist immigrant, a disillusioned Southern colonel, and a young woman from the elite circles of Old New York. Each perspective sheds light on the complexities of wealth and society, resonating with themes that feel strikingly relevant today. (Nicholas Clifford)