A Deal in Wheat And Other Stories

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

A Deal in Wheat And Other Stories

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Frank Norris's realist collection explores economic hardship and human struggle in early 20th-century America. Through tales of wheat market crashes, revolutionary smuggling, and forbidden love, the stories capture the volatility of commerce and the resilience of the individual against overwhelming social and financial forces.

Summary up to 500 words

Frank Norris's *A Deal in Wheat And Other Stories* (1903) presents a stark examination of how impersonal economic forces and rigid social structures dictate human destiny. The collection opens with the title story, a dramatic chronicle of the volatile wheat markets in Chicago. Sam Lewiston, a Kansas farmer, faces financial ruin as wheat prices plummet to sixty-two cents, a collapse engineered by powerful speculators like Truslow and Hornung. Norris contrasts Lewiston's desperate plight with the calculated maneuvers of the Chicago pit, where 'bear' and 'bull' cliques manipulate supply to crush individual livelihoods. The narrative reveals that while the farmer bears the brunt of market whims, the wealthy operators view these tragedies as mere business transactions, highlighting the dehumanizing nature of industrial capitalism. Parallel to this financial drama, the book explores themes of social upheaval and personal passion. In *The Wife of Chino*, set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, the story follows a dangerous smuggling venture involving arms and the mysterious Esperanza. The tale underscores the chaos and moral ambiguity of revolution, where personal desires are entangled with political violence and criminal enterprise. Another story, *The Riding of Felipe*, offers a poignant romance that illustrates the crushing weight of social convention. Felipe Arillaga is forbidden by his father to marry his beloved, Buelna. When she is forced to enter a convent, Felipe races across the stormy night to reach her before midnight. His desperate arrival interrupts her solemn procession, leading to a brief, passionate reunion. However, the story concludes tragically; Buelna is found drowned days later. Her death suggests that the very social constraints and economic realities that drove her to the convent ultimately claimed her life. Through these varied narratives, Norris illustrates a consistent theme: the inability of individuals to resist the overwhelming currents of society. Whether driven by the greed of the grain pit or the expectations of the church and family, characters are swept toward tragedy. The collection serves as a grim warning about the fragility of human happiness in the face of vast, indifferent systems.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/frank-norris_deal-in-wheat-and-other-stories.epub

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data/epubs/url-7a2b28386a012106.epub

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Fiction