Set against a vividly depicted background of fin de siecleNew York, this novel centres upon the conflict between a self-made millionaire and a fervent social revolutionary - a conflict in which a man of goodwill futilely attempts to act as a mediator, only to be forced himself into a crisis of conscience. William Deam Howells' grasp of the realities of the American experience in an age of emerging social struggle as well as his absolute determination to fairly represent every point of view is evident through this multifaceted work. Both a memorable portrait of an era and a profoundly moving study of human relationships, A Hazard of New Fortunesfully justifies Alfred Kazin's ranking of Howells as 'the first great domestic novelist of American life.'