63 pages • 2 hours read
Mark Twain, Charles Dudley WarnerThe Gilded Age: A Tale of Today
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1873A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Gilded Age follows the intertwined lives of the Hawkins family and several other characters in post-Civil War America, focusing on their pursuit of wealth and the resulting moral and financial consequences. Silas Hawkins moves his family to Missouri, seeking fortune through land speculation and befriending the charismatic Beriah Sellers, while secondary characters, including Philip Sterling and Ruth Bolton, navigate personal and economic ambitions amidst pervasive societal corruption.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Gilded Age by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner offers a scathing satire of post-Civil War America, highlighting rampant greed and political corruption. Critics laud its rich humor and sharp social commentary, though some find its numerous subplots convoluted. Overall, it remains a compelling and insightful portrayal of the era.
Who Should Read The Gilded Age?
An ideal reader for Twain and Warner's The Gilded Age is someone fascinated by satire, American history, and social critique. Fans of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or Catch-22 by Joseph Heller will appreciate the novel's incisive commentary on political corruption and economic disparity in post-Civil War America.