The novel centers around the moral and ethical journey of Silas Lapham, a self-made businessman who rises from rural Vermont origins to become a wealthy paint manufacturer in Boston. As Lapham grapples with the social expectations and responsibilities that accompany his newfound status, he faces a series of personal and financial challenges that test his integrity. His desire to integrate into high society and secure advantageous marriages for his daughters leads to a clash between the values of material success and moral rectitude. Throughout the story, Lapham's character is explored through his interactions with the aristocratic Corey family, highlighting the tensions between the old and new elite in American society.

The 1537th greatest book of all time