On the Stairs

On the Stairs is a novel by Henry Blake Fuller, written in the early 20th century. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century America, it follows the lives of two boys, Johnny McComas and Raymond Prince, as they navigate social mobility and identity from their time at Grant's Private Academy in 1873 to 1916. The story contrasts Johnny's rise from humble beginnings with Raymond's struggles as the son of a capitalist family, highlighting the societal pressures and personal choices that shape their divergent paths.