'Hazard of New Fortunes' Summary

The Hazard of New Fortunes is a novel by William Dean Howells that explores the social and economic tensions of New York City in the late 19th century. The story follows Basil March, a literary-minded businessman from Boston, who moves his family to New York to edit a new journal. Unbeknownst to March, the journal's financial backer is Mr. Dryfoos, a newly wealthy Pennsylvania Dutch farmer who has made his fortune from natural gas. As March and his family settle into their new life in the bustling metropolis, they encounter a cast of colorful characters who represent the diverse social and economic strata of the time. There's Dryfoos's children, a German socialist immigrant, an impoverished Southern colonel, and a young woman from the upper echelon of New York society. Each of these characters brings their own unique perspective to the story, shedding light on the complex social and economic contradictions that define the Gilded Age. Through their interactions, March and his family come to a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities that the city offers, and the ways in which wealth and status can both empower and corrupt.