The Reign of Gilt by David Graham Phillips
QR code
"The Reign of Gilt" by David Graham Phillips is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores the themes of wealth, aristocracy, and the challenges of democracy in a rapidly changing society. It delves into the lives of the wealthy in New York, highlighting the extravagance and moral implications of a growing plutocracy that threatens fundamental democratic values. The opening of the book introduces the perspective of an Episcopalian
bishop who has spent his life among the affluent, offering a critical examination of the contemporary plutocracy. He laments the moral decay and extravagance he observes, particularly among young women who appear to value wealth above all else. Phillips contrasts the corrupting influence of money with the enduring principles of democracy and intelligence, arguing that true progress hinges on the diffusion of knowledge and the promotion of equality. This sets the stage for a broader exploration of the societal dynamics between wealth and democracy, as well as the personal lives woven into this fabric of extravagance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
Kobo, Nook etc → Transfer via USB
Phone, tablet or computer → Open in a reading app
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Phillips, David Graham, 1867-1911 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 05033196 |
| Title | The Reign of Gilt |
| Contents | Part I. Plutocracy: We are not all money-crazed. The mania for gilt. Plutocracy at home. Youth among the money-maniacs. Caste-compellers. Pauper-making. The made-over White House. And Europe laughs -- Part II. Democracy: "We, the people" The compeller of equality. Democracy's dynamo. A nation of dreamers. Not generosity, but justice. The inevitable ideal. Our allies from abroad. The real American woman. As to success. The man of to-day and to-morrow. |
| Credits | D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 57.1 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | HN: Social sciences: Social history and conditions, Social problems |
| Subject | Social problems |
| Subject | United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918 |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 64402 |
| Release Date | Jan 27, 2021 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 386 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!