The Gilded AgeIntroduction by Ron Powers Includes Newly Commissioned Endnotes Arguably the first major American novel to satirize the political milieu of Washington, D.C. and the wild speculation schemes that exploded across the nation in the years that followed the Civil War, The Gilded Age gave this remarkable era its name. Co-written by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, this rollicking novel is rife with unscrupulous politicians, colorful plutocrats, and blindly optimistic speculators caught up in a frenzy of romance, murder, and surefire deals gone bust. First published in 1873 and filled with unforgettable characters such as the vainglorious Colonel Sellers and the ruthless Senator Dilsworthy, The Gilded Age is a hilarious and instructive lesson in American history. |
Contents
A Dinner with Col SellersWonderful Effects | 79 |
Laura and Col Sellers Go to Washington on Invitation of Senator Dilworthy 220 | 151 |
33 | 205 |
Philip and Harry at the BoltonsPhilip Seriously Injured Ruths First Case of Surgery | 223 |
Laura Becomes a Famous Belle at Washington | 233 |
Society in WashingtonThe Antiques the Parvenus and the Middle Aristocracy | 238 |
Grand Scheme for Disposing of the Tennessee Land Laura and Washington Hawkins Enjoying the Reputation of Being Millionaires | 253 |
About SenatorsTheir Privileges and Habits | 258 |
The Passage of the Bill in the House of Representatives | 327 |
Disappearance of Laura and Murder of Col Selby in New York | 338 |
Laura in the Tombs and Her Visitors | 346 |
Mr Bolton Says Yes AgainPhilip Returns to the Mines | 353 |
The Coal Vein Found and Lost AgainPhilip and the BoltonsElated and Then Cruelly Disappointed | 360 |
50 | 367 |
How Senator Dilworthy Advanced Washingtons | 382 |
The Trial ContinuedEvidence of Harry Brierly | 399 |
An Hour in a Book Store | 265 |
Representative Buckstone and Lauras Strategic Coquetry | 270 |
Reception Day in WashingtonLaura Again Meets Col Selby and the Effect upon Her | 274 |
Col Selby Visits Laura and Effects a Reconciliation | 281 |
Col Sellers Career in WashingtonLauras Intimacy with Col Selby Is Talked About | 286 |
41 | 291 |
How the Hon Mr Trollop Was Induced to Vote for Lauras Bill | 298 |
Progress of the Bill in the House | 314 |
Philip in WashingtonVisits Laura | 320 |
56 | 406 |
The Momentous DayStartling NewsDilworthy | 414 |
The Investigation of the Dilworthy Bribery Case | 429 |
Col Sellers and Washington Hawkins Review | 447 |
APPENDIX | 465 |
64 | 468 |
70 | 477 |
READING GROUP GUIDE | 487 |
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Common terms and phrases
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