The story in one page
George Morton, a man of modest means and natural athletic prowess, refuses to accept his position as a servant to the wealthy Planter family. Driven by a quiet, persistent obsession with Sylvia Planter, he leaves his rural home to navigate the elite circles of Princeton and the competitive landscape of New York business. Along his journey, he sheds his humble origins, earns the wary respect of his social superiors, and undergoes the transformative, often violent, experience of wartime service. George relentlessly pushes against the rigid barriers of his society, ultimately reuniting with Sylvia in a final, defiant embrace that ignores the conventions of their upbringing.
Who's who
- George Morton
Ambitious climber obsessed with infiltrating the heights of high society.
- Sylvia Planter
Imperious socialite caught in a decades-long volatile dance with George.
- Lambert Planter
Sylvia's brother who bridges the gap between George and his family.
- Wandel
A perceptive acquaintance who measures George's social distance from the elite.
What it's really about
- Social mobility
- The relentless friction between working and inherited status.
- Willpower
- The ability to manifest reality through sheer force.
Why it's memorable
- A young man forcing a debutante to endure his touch during an argument.
- The contrast of a grimy soldier saluting a captain in a muddy trench.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
George and Sylvia meet again in a library in Princeton. After years of rivalry and distance, Sylvia admits she is no longer afraid, and they embrace, leaving their pasts behind.
For your book club
- Why does the author frame social status as a military objective?
- Can the ending be viewed as an actual reconciliation or a conquest?