Humoresque

Humoresque is a novel by Fannie Hurst, first published in 1919. The book tells the story of a young Jewish violinist named Leon Kantor, who comes from a poor family in New York City's Lower East Side. Despite his humble beginnings, Leon is a gifted musician who dreams of becoming a famous concert performer. The novel follows Leon's journey as he rises to fame and fortune, facing numerous obstacles along the way. He falls in love with a wealthy socialite named Helen Wright, but their relationship is complicated by their different social backgrounds and the disapproval of Helen's family. As Leon's career takes off, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the music industry and the shallow nature of fame. He also struggles with his own identity as a Jewish American, facing discrimination and prejudice from some of his colleagues and audiences. Humoresque is a poignant and often humorous exploration of the American Dream, the pursuit of artistic excellence, and the challenges of navigating social and cultural barriers. Hurst's vivid descriptions of New York City in the early 20th century bring the story to life, while her sensitive portrayal of Leon's struggles and triumphs make this a timeless classic of American literature.""The people got to be amused the same as they got to be fed. A man will pay for his amusements quicker than he will pay his butcher's or his doctor's bill. It's a cash business, Rosie. All you do with such a machine like Hahn's is get it well placed, drop your penny in the slot, and see one picture after another as big as life. I remember back in the old country, the years before we came over, when I was yet a youngster.""This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.