The Gilded Age

Rollicking 1873 tale portrays post-Civil War corruption of Washington, D.C. The Gilded Age became synonymous with the era's excesses, and its subtitle -- "A Tale of Today" -- remains relevant.

After the Civil War, Samuel Clemens (1835-1910) left his small town to seek work as a riverboat pilot. As Mark Twain, the Missouri native found his place in the world. Author, journalist, lecturer, wit, and sage, Twain created enduring works that have enlightened and amused readers of all ages for generations.
Essayist and novelist Charles Dudley Warner (1829-1900) was the editor of Connecticut's The Hartford Press and a columnist for Harper's Magazine. He was the first president of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and president of the American Social Science Association.