A Hazard of New Fortunes
Encyclopedia
A Hazard of New Fortunes is a novel by William Dean Howells
. First published in 1890, the book was well-received for its awareness of social injustice—indeed, the book, considered by many to be his best work, was one of three Howells had written with Socialist and Utopian ideals in mind; The Quality of Mercy in 1892, and An Imperative Duty in 1893. The book is one of Howells' attempts to introduce the American Civil War
into novels, rather than reconstruction novels, which were prominent in post-war America, while staying within the Realism
style.
, tells the story of the dispute between a self-made millionaire and a social revolutionary, with a third man attempting to act as mediator, yet his efforts prove futile.
The main character of the novel, Basil March, is a neutral
character by whose viewpoint the reader sees most of the story. He resides in Boston
with his wife and children. They are persuaded by March's idealistic friend Fulkerson to move to New York to start a new magazine, where the writers benefit in a primitive form of profit sharing
. After some deliberation, the Marches move to New York and begin a rather extensive search for a perfect apartment. After many exhausting weeks of searching, Basil finally settles for an apartment.
Work at the new magazine starts, and they decide on a name - Every Other Week. The bankroll of the magazine is coming from a man named Dryfoos, who made it rich from discovering natural gas on his farm, and who is now making money on Wall Street. Dryfoos' son, Conrad, becomes the publisher for the magazine. An illustrator by the name of Angus Beaton, an old friend of Fulkerson's is chosen. Beaton is rivaled by Alma Leighton whom he has feelings for. A translator is found to translate German
stories - Berthold Lindau, an old friend of Basil March's, and a veteran of the American Civil War
. Lindau lost his hand in battle, and fought for the north because he was a strong abolitionist.
Colonel Woodburn, a wealthy southern man, and his family move to New York
and become involved with the newspaper when their social circle connects with that of Dryfoos and Fulkerson. Those in charge of Every Other Week would like some of Colonel Woodburn's pro-slavery
writings to be published, because they believe it would sell more copies of the already popular magazine. At a dinner banquet, the personalities of Dryfoos the capitalist
, Lindau the socialist
, and Colonel Woodburn the pro-slavery
advocate clash.
In the end of the book, a strike
occurs for drivers of street-cars. The strike, similar to the Hay Market Square Riot, turns into a riot. This prompts the ideals of Woodburn, Lindau, and Dryfoos to argue about how it should be resolved. Conrad Dryfoos, charmed by the lovely Margaret Vance, has become a humanitarian for the working class. While attempting to stop a policeman from beating the aged Lindau, he is fatally shot. March watches from a streetcar. Dryfoos, who always has used money to separate himself from pain, sells the magazine to Fulkerson and March for an extremely low price.
Their Wedding Journey. Basil's age is never given, nor is his role in the American Civil War
. It can be inferred from A Hazard of New Fortunes entirely that he was old enough to participate in the war, based on his conversation with Lindau in the restaurant.
William Dean Howells
did not fight in the Civil War, but rather wrote in Italy. His writings, which later were published in the Atlantic Monthly, kept him from experiencing the war first-hand. Conscription
, or the act of finding someone to replace you or paying a fee, was used in the Civil War for people who didn't want to fight. Dryfoos is a prime example of conscription, or substitution, in the novel, mirroring Howells himself. Substitution was also a major element of Howells' The Rise of Silas Lapham
(1885).
The title is a reference to William Shakespeare
's King John. King John includes uncertainty, change, and violence, which are also present in A Hazard of New Fortunes.
William Dean Howells
William Dean Howells was an American realist author and literary critic. Nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters", he was particularly known for his tenure as editor of the Atlantic Monthly as well as his own writings, including the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day" and the novel The Rise of...
. First published in 1890, the book was well-received for its awareness of social injustice—indeed, the book, considered by many to be his best work, was one of three Howells had written with Socialist and Utopian ideals in mind; The Quality of Mercy in 1892, and An Imperative Duty in 1893. The book is one of Howells' attempts to introduce the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
into novels, rather than reconstruction novels, which were prominent in post-war America, while staying within the Realism
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
style.
Characters
- Basil March - Businessman from BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
who moves to New York cityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to start a new periodical. - Fulkerson - Hopeful entrepreneur who claims to originate the idea of Every Other Week.
- Colonel Woodburn - Wealthy VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
resident who was a colonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
for the ConfederacyConfederate States ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He believes slavery could work if they made the system more efficient. - Berthold Lindau - German-born member of the lower class. He fought for the north in the Civil War and lost his hand. He is pro-worker's rights.
- Mr. Dryfoos - rich northerner who made his money on natural gasNatural gasNatural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. He is anti-union and bankrolls Every Other Week. - Conrad Dryfoos - son of Mr. Dryfoos. He is optimistic and enjoys helping those who are less fortunate.
- Angus Beaton - an artist for Every Other Week.
- Alma Leighton - a beautiful, aspiring artist who contributes drawings to Every Other Week.
- Margaret Vance - a New York society girl who leads an un-traditional life engaging in charity work. Plays banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
.
Plot summary
The book, which takes place in late 19th century New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, tells the story of the dispute between a self-made millionaire and a social revolutionary, with a third man attempting to act as mediator, yet his efforts prove futile.
The main character of the novel, Basil March, is a neutral
Neutrality (philosophy)
Neutrality is the absence of declared bias. In an argument, a neutral person will not choose a side.A Neutral country maintains political neutrality, a related but distinct concept.-What neutrality is not:...
character by whose viewpoint the reader sees most of the story. He resides in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
with his wife and children. They are persuaded by March's idealistic friend Fulkerson to move to New York to start a new magazine, where the writers benefit in a primitive form of profit sharing
Profit sharing
Profit sharing, when used as a special term, refers to various incentive plans introduced by businesses that provide direct or indirect payments to employees that depend on company's profitability in addition to employees' regular salary and bonuses...
. After some deliberation, the Marches move to New York and begin a rather extensive search for a perfect apartment. After many exhausting weeks of searching, Basil finally settles for an apartment.
Work at the new magazine starts, and they decide on a name - Every Other Week. The bankroll of the magazine is coming from a man named Dryfoos, who made it rich from discovering natural gas on his farm, and who is now making money on Wall Street. Dryfoos' son, Conrad, becomes the publisher for the magazine. An illustrator by the name of Angus Beaton, an old friend of Fulkerson's is chosen. Beaton is rivaled by Alma Leighton whom he has feelings for. A translator is found to translate German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
stories - Berthold Lindau, an old friend of Basil March's, and a veteran of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Lindau lost his hand in battle, and fought for the north because he was a strong abolitionist.
Colonel Woodburn, a wealthy southern man, and his family move to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and become involved with the newspaper when their social circle connects with that of Dryfoos and Fulkerson. Those in charge of Every Other Week would like some of Colonel Woodburn's pro-slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
writings to be published, because they believe it would sell more copies of the already popular magazine. At a dinner banquet, the personalities of Dryfoos the capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, Lindau the socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, and Colonel Woodburn the pro-slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
advocate clash.
In the end of the book, a strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
occurs for drivers of street-cars. The strike, similar to the Hay Market Square Riot, turns into a riot. This prompts the ideals of Woodburn, Lindau, and Dryfoos to argue about how it should be resolved. Conrad Dryfoos, charmed by the lovely Margaret Vance, has become a humanitarian for the working class. While attempting to stop a policeman from beating the aged Lindau, he is fatally shot. March watches from a streetcar. Dryfoos, who always has used money to separate himself from pain, sells the magazine to Fulkerson and March for an extremely low price.
In references to other works
Basil March and his wife may or may not be the same characters' from Howells'William Dean Howells
William Dean Howells was an American realist author and literary critic. Nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters", he was particularly known for his tenure as editor of the Atlantic Monthly as well as his own writings, including the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day" and the novel The Rise of...
Their Wedding Journey. Basil's age is never given, nor is his role in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It can be inferred from A Hazard of New Fortunes entirely that he was old enough to participate in the war, based on his conversation with Lindau in the restaurant.
William Dean Howells
William Dean Howells
William Dean Howells was an American realist author and literary critic. Nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters", he was particularly known for his tenure as editor of the Atlantic Monthly as well as his own writings, including the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day" and the novel The Rise of...
did not fight in the Civil War, but rather wrote in Italy. His writings, which later were published in the Atlantic Monthly, kept him from experiencing the war first-hand. Conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, or the act of finding someone to replace you or paying a fee, was used in the Civil War for people who didn't want to fight. Dryfoos is a prime example of conscription, or substitution, in the novel, mirroring Howells himself. Substitution was also a major element of Howells' The Rise of Silas Lapham
The Rise of Silas Lapham
The Rise of Silas Lapham is a realistic novel written by William Dean Howells in 1885 about 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...
(1885).
The title is a reference to William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's King John. King John includes uncertainty, change, and violence, which are also present in A Hazard of New Fortunes.
See also
- ISBN 0-14-043923-4