The Rise of Silas Lapham
William Dean Howells
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The Rise of Silas Lapham is the most widely read of W.D. Howells’ novels. An example of literary realism, the story is about a farmer (Silas Lapham) who launches a very successful paint business, and moves his family up the social ladder of Boston. Lapham, however, is not one of the new types of American businessman, the ruthless plutocrat, rather he is the old-fashioned trustworthy Yankee trader, and the story deals with how he fares in the industrial capitalist environment. It is also a novel of manners, telling the story of the courtship of a daughter, and the difficulties the family deals with in attempting to move from one social class to another. (Summary by Margaret Espaillat) (0 hr 35 min)
Chapters
Chapter 1 | 42:52 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 2 | 30:32 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 3 | 19:32 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 4 | 27:19 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 5 | 21:17 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 6 | 24:18 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 7 | 18:04 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 8 | 30:22 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 9 | 36:56 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 10 | 23:08 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 11 | 36:49 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 12 | 34:08 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 13 | 31:17 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 14 | 43:59 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 15 | 9:28 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 16 | 18:27 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 17 | 19:35 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 18 | 19:05 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 19 | 29:59 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 20 | 25:40 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 21 | 17:52 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 22 | 10:17 | Read by BumbleVee |
Chapter 23 | 31:12 | Read by Margaret Espaillat |
Chapter 24 | 34:50 | Read by Margaret Espaillat |
Chapter 25 | 41:19 | Read by Margaret Espaillat |
Chapter 26 | 32:43 | Read by Margaret Espaillat |
Chapter 27 | 44:38 | Read by Margaret Espaillat |
Reviews
An American Story
jenniebrown
Silas epitomizes the rags to riches story with some interesting moral dilemmas that can make or break oneself and/or the people involved. Silas wants to move his family "up" on the social ladder in Boston to show how successful he is in business but will it be his crowning glory? He is a tough, unpolished man who depends on his devoted wife's advice but can he take her advice on the moral issues of the day. As a Howell fan, I found this book one of his best and could not put it down. Fascinating story and with only two narrators who were excellent!