Living Too Fast; Or, The Confessions of a Bank Officer

"Living Too Fast; Or, The Confessions of a Bank Officer" by Oliver Optic is a story about a bank officer consumed by ambition who finds himself trapped in a web of lies and moral compromises in the late 1800s. The story follows Paley Glasswood, a young man competing with his friend Tom Flynn for a desired bank job; their competition highlights Paley’s belief that he is better than Tom, which is fueled by his uncle’s manipulation and Tom’s rumored past wrongdoing. Paley's ambition and desire for success start him on a slippery slope, especially when his growing feelings for Miss Lilian Oliphant lead him to make increasingly dishonest choices about their finances. Throughout the novel, Paley's journey shows the difficult choices and temptations faced by ambitious young businessmen of the era.