The Golden Flood

"The Golden Flood" by Edwin Lefevre is an early 20th-century story about a mysterious young man named George Kitchell Grinnell who turns Wall Street upside down when he starts depositing huge amounts of gold into a bank, instantly making him an instant sensation. The plot builds as Grinnell's wealth grows, worrying Mr. Dawson, the bank president, because no one knows where the gold came from. The story explores what happens when someone suddenly has a lot of money, and how it can affect everyone and everything in the financial realm. As tension rises Dawson struggles with curiosity and fear, as the story emphasizes the secret nature of wealth.