The Fortune Hunter

"The Fortune Hunter" by Louis Joseph Vance and Winchell Smith is a narrative set in the early twentieth century that centers around Nathaniel Duncan, an ordinary man grappling with a crisis of identity and self-esteem amidst financial hardship and societal norms. In an era that equates worth with affluence, Duncan's trials mirror ambition, societal pressures, and personal ethics. At the beginning of the novel, Duncan is summoned back to a New York office and informed that he will be fired. This section highlights his profound struggle and his awareness of his failure to thrive in the business sector, especially compared to the success of his friend, Harry Kellogg. Duncan's interactions show him as charismatic yet unfortunate as he navigates fate and friendship, leading to an unsettling proposition by Kellogg: to marry for money. This incites ambition colliding with ethical questions, pushing readers to consider the sacrifices of success and the true form of happiness.