The Grain of Dust: A Novel

"The Grain of Dust: A Novel" by David Graham Phillips is a story set in the early 1900s that shows the different paths of Dorothea Hallowell, a humble woman searching for work, and Frederick Norman, a driven young lawyer at a well-known firm. The book discusses topics like social status, the desire to succeed, and the complicated nature of relationships between people as Dorothea starts working at a big law firm, her quiet personality and challenges as a temporary worker become clear with very few interactions. Frederick is displayed as a smart, ambitious, and somewhat cold person trying to get ahead, and when Dorothea and Frederick first meet, the beginning of their relationship hints at deeper emotions and challenges that could emerge.