Golden Fleece: The American Adventures of a Fortune Hunting Earl

"Golden Fleece: The American Adventures of a Fortune Hunting Earl" by David Graham Phillips is a story set in the early 1900s, about an English earl named Frothingham, journeying through marriage and American social circles to find an American heiress. The story shows the differences between American and English cultures, money, and what people expect, as Frothingham deals with his feelings and outside pressure to marry rich. We are introduced to Frothingham’s life as characters talk about his upcoming marriage to Helen Dowie, a rich American. His sister, Gwen, feels conflicted, showing some jealousy and worry about being left behind. As Frothingham talks to his sister and friends, we see how much pressure he is under because of money, and different opinions about American heiresses held by his friends. Meeting people like Longview shows the battle between American money and English titles, and possible romances make the story more complicated, building a colorful and tense world, filled with a tug-of-war between what he wants and society's expectations.