A Mirror for History

"In this book, Marc Egnal argues that the arc of middle-class culture reflects the evolution of the economy from the near-subsistence agriculture of the 1750s to the extraordinarily unequal society of the twenty-first century. By using literature and art to explain the shifts in values over this lengthy span and highlighting class conflict within the American economy over time, Egnal offers particularly unique insights into the development of middle-class America. By delving into a myriad of fictional characters and their complex worlds, Egnal sheds light on an array of issues including the shifting roles of women in society, the resulting changes in masculinity, waning religious beliefs through the centuries, and a broad exploration of African American characters"--