Success

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78012

Title

Success

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Una L. Silberrad's *Success* explores the psychological toll of industrial espionage and the redemptive power of truth. Through the story of Michael Annarly, a brilliant engineer unjustly dismissed, the novel examines themes of integrity, the nature of genius, and the long road to vindication. With a tone that balances domestic warmth against the cold machinery of corporate suspicion, this narrative offers a compelling look at how character endures when reputation is stripped away.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century industrial England, Una L. Silberrad's *Success* chronicles the life of Michael Annarly, a visionary engineer whose innovative work is co-opted by his former employer, Galhardy's. After being falsely accused of theft and dismissed, Annarly retreats into isolation, spending seven years in a state of professional purgatory while his invention is mass-produced by the very company that cast him out. The narrative alternates between the bustling, flower-filled preparations of a family wedding and Annarly's solitary struggle in a hostile work environment where he is constantly monitored and his ideas dissected by bureaucratic rivals. The story deepens through Annarly's correspondence with Nan, his childhood friend and the daughter of his former mentor, Mr. Cordover. Their letters reveal the crushing weight of suspicion and the slow erosion of Annarly's spirit. However, the turning point arrives with Mr. Cordover's death, which leaves a legacy of ten thousand pounds specifically designated for Annarly to clear his name. This sum allows him to sue Galhardy's for patent infringement, a legal battle that not only secures his financial future but also forces the public and the court to acknowledge his genius and the company's theft. The novel culminates in a famous patent infringement case that exposes the moral bankruptcy of the industrial giants and restores Annarly's standing. Yet, Silberrad suggests that true success is not merely the restoration of status or wealth. In the aftermath of his victory, Annarly appears detached from the conventional markers of achievement, having solved a complex engineering problem regarding reversible turbines during the trial. He seems to have transcended the need for external validation, finding satisfaction in the pursuit of truth itself. Through Annarly's journey, the book argues that while society may fail to recognize talent immediately, the integrity of the individual and the eventual triumph of facts over falsehood constitute a deeper, more enduring form of success.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Fiction
• Science