Pawned

"Pawned" by Frank L. Packard is a heartaching novel set in early 1900s New York. It begins with a scene of desperation, when Hawkins, a cabman haunted by his failures and the recent passing of his wife, leaves his baby daughter with Paul Veniza, a pawnbroker. This sets the stage for a story exploring themes of sacrifice, human relationships, redemption, and the cabman's internal battle to become worthy of being a father to his new child. These are intertwined with the grim world of pawn shops, and the idea that the choices we make when things are at their worst impact our lives and the lives of others.