A Hazard of New Fortunes — Volume 1

"A Hazard of New Fortunes — Volume 1" by William Dean Howells is a story set in the late 1800s during a time of big changes in America after factories became more common. It's about Basil March, a man who is not happy working as an insurance agent in Boston. He has a big choice to make: should he leave his job and family and go work as a writer for a brand new magazine in New York City? New York is described as a busy city with lots of chances, but also challenges. He talks to an ambitious man named Fulkerson who tries to convince him to take the job. Basil is tired of what he does now and really wants to do something related to literature. He’s unsure about moving because he cares about his family and wonders how it will change their lives. His wife is also worried because she loves Boston and doesn't know if she wants to move. The beginning of the book shows how hopeful the characters are, how society is changing around them, and what they might lose or gain by chasing their dreams in a fast-changing country.