The Great God Success By: David Graham Phillips (1867-1911)
The Great God Success by David Graham Phillips is a compelling portrayal of the corrupting influence of fame and fortune in early 20th-century America. Set in a bustling metropolis, the novel follows the rise and fall of Arthur Winslow, a young and ambitious newspaper reporter who becomes entangled in a world of power, greed, and deceit. Phillips masterfully explores the allure of success and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve it. Through his vivid and nuanced characters, he exposes the stark realities of a society driven by ambition and material gains. The protagonist, Arthur Winslow, starts off as an idealistic journalist striving to uncover the truth, but gradually succumbs to the seductive promises of success and recognition. As he climbs the social ladder, he loses touch with his values, compromising his integrity and ultimately paying the price for his Faustian bargain. The author's prose is rich and evocative, immersing the reader in the bustling cityscape with its teeming streets, glittering skyscrapers, and bustling newsrooms. Phillips masterfully captures the fast-paced and cutthroat nature of the time, highlighting the harsh realities faced by those striving for success in a dog-eat-dog world. His attention to detail is commendable, providing a vivid backdrop against which the characters' ambitions and moral compromises unfold. Moreover, Phillips delves into the larger social issues of the era. The novel serves as a scathing critique of the rampant capitalism and social inequality that defined early 20th-century America. He exposes the corrupting influence of money, revealing the stark disparities between the haves and have-nots. Through Arthur's journey, Phillips highlights the devastating consequences of a society obsessed with material success at the expense of social justice and human connection. While the narrative may at times feel a bit melodramatic, it effectively captures the tumultuous emotions and moral dilemmas faced by the characters. Their struggles and internal conflicts are relatable, serving as a cautionary reminder to readers about the pitfalls of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of worldly success. Overall, The Great God Success is a thought-provoking and socially-conscious novel that explores the darker side of the American Dream. Phillips' compelling storytelling and astute observations make it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the complexities of ambition, power, and the human condition. First Page: The Great God Success A NOVEL By JOHN GRAHAM (DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS) THE GREGG PRESS / RIDGEWOOD, N.J. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE CANDIDATE FROM YALE II. THE CITY EDITOR RECONSIDERS III. A PARK ROW CELEBRITY IV. IN THE EDGE OF BOHEMIA V. ALICE VI. IN A BOHEMIAN QUICKSAND VII. A LITTLE CANDLE GOES OUT VIII. A STRUGGLE FOR SELF CONTROL IX. AMBITION AWAKENS X. THE ETERNAL MASCULINE XI. TRESPASSING XII. MAKING THE MOST OF A MONTH XIII. RECKONING WITH DANVERS XIV. THE NEWS RECORD GETS A NEW EDITOR XV. YELLOW JOURNALISM XVI. MR. STOKELY IS TACTLESS XVII. A WOMAN AND A WARNING XVIII. HOWARD EXPLAINS HIS MACHINE XIX. "I MUST BE RICH." XX. ILLUSION XXI. WAVERING XXII. THE SHENSTONE EPISODE XXIII. EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING XXIV. "MR. VALIANT FOR TRUTH." XXV. THE PROMISED LAND XXVI. IN POSSESSION XXVII. THE HARVEST XXVIII. SUCCESS THE GREAT GOD SUCCESS I. THE CANDIDATE FROM YALE. "O your college paper, I suppose?" "No, I never wrote even a letter to the editor." "Took prizes for essays?" "No, I never wrote if I could help it." "But you like to write?" "I'd like to learn to write." "You say you are two months out of college what college?" "Yale... Continue reading book >>

The Great God Success By: David Graham Phillips (1867-1911)

The Great God Success by David Graham Phillips is a compelling portrayal of the corrupting influence of fame and fortune in early 20th-century America. Set in a bustling metropolis, the novel follows the rise and fall of Arthur Winslow, a young and ambitious newspaper reporter who becomes entangled in a world of power, greed, and deceit.

Phillips masterfully explores the allure of success and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve it. Through his vivid and nuanced characters, he exposes the stark realities of a society driven by ambition and material gains. The protagonist, Arthur Winslow, starts off as an idealistic journalist striving to uncover the truth, but gradually succumbs to the seductive promises of success and recognition. As he climbs the social ladder, he loses touch with his values, compromising his integrity and ultimately paying the price for his Faustian bargain.

The author's prose is rich and evocative, immersing the reader in the bustling cityscape with its teeming streets, glittering skyscrapers, and bustling newsrooms. Phillips masterfully captures the fast-paced and cutthroat nature of the time, highlighting the harsh realities faced by those striving for success in a dog-eat-dog world. His attention to detail is commendable, providing a vivid backdrop against which the characters' ambitions and moral compromises unfold.

Moreover, Phillips delves into the larger social issues of the era. The novel serves as a scathing critique of the rampant capitalism and social inequality that defined early 20th-century America. He exposes the corrupting influence of money, revealing the stark disparities between the haves and have-nots. Through Arthur's journey, Phillips highlights the devastating consequences of a society obsessed with material success at the expense of social justice and human connection.

While the narrative may at times feel a bit melodramatic, it effectively captures the tumultuous emotions and moral dilemmas faced by the characters. Their struggles and internal conflicts are relatable, serving as a cautionary reminder to readers about the pitfalls of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of worldly success.

Overall, The Great God Success is a thought-provoking and socially-conscious novel that explores the darker side of the American Dream. Phillips' compelling storytelling and astute observations make it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the complexities of ambition, power, and the human condition.

First Page:

The Great God Success

A NOVEL

By JOHN GRAHAM (DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS)

THE GREGG PRESS / RIDGEWOOD, N.J.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. THE CANDIDATE FROM YALE

II. THE CITY EDITOR RECONSIDERS

III. A PARK ROW CELEBRITY

IV. IN THE EDGE OF BOHEMIA

V. ALICE

VI. IN A BOHEMIAN QUICKSAND

VII. A LITTLE CANDLE GOES OUT

VIII. A STRUGGLE FOR SELF CONTROL

IX. AMBITION AWAKENS

X. THE ETERNAL MASCULINE

XI. TRESPASSING

XII. MAKING THE MOST OF A MONTH

XIII. RECKONING WITH DANVERS

XIV. THE NEWS RECORD GETS A NEW EDITOR

XV. YELLOW JOURNALISM

XVI. MR. STOKELY IS TACTLESS

XVII. A WOMAN AND A WARNING

XVIII. HOWARD EXPLAINS HIS MACHINE

XIX. "I MUST BE RICH."

XX. ILLUSION

XXI. WAVERING

XXII. THE SHENSTONE EPISODE

XXIII. EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING

XXIV. "MR. VALIANT FOR TRUTH."

XXV. THE PROMISED LAND

XXVI. IN POSSESSION

XXVII. THE HARVEST

XXVIII. SUCCESS

THE GREAT GOD SUCCESS

THE CANDIDATE FROM YALE.

"O your college paper, I suppose?"

"No, I never wrote even a letter to the editor."

"Took prizes for essays?"

"No, I never wrote if I could help it."

"But you like to write?"

"I'd like to learn to write."

"You say you are two months out of college what college?"

"Yale... Continue reading book >>

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