Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise

A terrific new edition of David Graham Phillips' masterpiece. One of his most celebrated works, this book was made into a film starring Greta Garbo.

The author lived from 1867-1911 so that gives you some idea of the time frame of the story. Susan Lenox is born to an unwed mother who dies after childbirth. She becomes inconvenient to her Aunt's middle class family and is forced to marry a stranger to get her out of the way. This is the story of what she makes of her life. As you read the book, you realize that things haven't changed all that much. Woman still earn 70 cents for every dollar a man earns doing the same job, it's still hard to get ahead without your family's or a man's backing. Most of us are still wage-slaves. It's a fascinating book and will give you a lot to think about.