A Fierce Discontent (Magill’s Literary Annual 2004)
At a glance:
- Author: Michael McGerr
- First Published: 2003
- Type of Work: History
- Time of Work: 1870-1920
- Setting: The United States
- Principal Characters: Jane Addams, Sherwood Anderson, Christy Mathewson, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Frank Lloyd Wright
- Genres: Nonfiction, History
- Subjects: Social action, United States or Americans, Social reform, Class conflict, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Middle classes, Revolutions, 1910’s, 1920’s, Immigration or emigration, Economics, Business or business people, Industrialization, Urbanization, 1900’s
- Locales: United States
A Fierce Discontent is eminently readable. Chapters commence with snappy scenes that illuminate forthcoming themes. In the opening paragraph of “Signs of Friction,” tycoons at an elite Chicago men’s club romp across sofas and onto tables playing follow the leader in celebration of “Old Guard” Republican William McKinley’s 1896 victory over Populist-leaning Democrat William Jennings Bryan. Their wealth and status were secure, at least for the moment. In contrast, readers later learn about sick, depressed Rahel Golub, who had just broken off her engagement to Israel,...
[The entire page is 2044 words long]
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