The Bread-Winners: A Social Study

The Bread-Winners: A Social Study, published in 1884 by John Hay, is a satirical novel that critiques the American labor movement in the context of the 1877 railway strike. The story follows Mr. Arthur Farnham, a wealthy widower, and his interactions with Maud Matchin, a young woman from a working-class background striving to improve her circumstances. Through their relationship, the novel explores themes of social class dynamics, ambition, and the struggles faced by individuals in the context of industrial relations.