Jacob's Ladder

"Jacob's Ladder" by E. Phillips Oppenheim is a tale of transformation and redemption in the early 1900s. The story centers on Jacob Pratt, a man who descends into shame and financial collapse after bankruptcy. Shunned and humbled, Jacob unexpectedly receives a large inheritance two years after his public disgrace, which changes his life forever. This newfound wealth provides Jacob the perfect opportunity to reinvent himself and get revenge on the people who were once cruel to him. The opening pages show Jacob dealing with his new life after bankruptcy, and his feelings of isolation. Jacob struggles to commute to the city and face people who were once his friends. Through this journey, Jacob's inheritance enables him to confront complex social situations as he works to regain his lost dignity.