### : A Tale of Today `Author:` [[Mark Twain]] `Availability:` > [!info] > ![[TheGuildedAge.jpg]] ## Summary **The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today** (1873), co-written by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, is a satirical novel set in post–Civil War America. The title itself, suggesting a thin layer of gold covering something base, became shorthand for the era’s corruption and materialism. The story follows several intersecting plots, chiefly that of the Hawkins family, who live in rural Tennessee and cling to a dream of selling a huge tract of supposedly valuable land. Laura Hawkins, a strong-willed and ambitious young woman, seeks wealth and influence through social manoeuvring and later becomes entangled in a bribery scandal. Parallel storylines satirise political graft, land speculation, and the scramble for quick riches. Through sharp humour and caricature, the novel skewers speculative greed, political corruption, and the illusion that wealth equals progress — reflecting the moral contradictions of the age. Its criticism aligns with Enlightenment-influenced ideals of civic virtue, but with Twain’s trademark scepticism toward human motives. ## Key Takeaways ## Quotes - ## Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gilded_Age:_A_Tale_of_Today?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]