The Efficiency Expert

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Efficiency Expert

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

In 1920s Chicago, a college star and amateur boxer finds himself jobless and in debt after graduation. Forced to work menial jobs, he encounters crime and romance while navigating a dangerous factory conspiracy involving a ruthless efficiency expert. A tale of ambition, survival, and redemption.

Summary up to 500 words

In Edgar Rice Burroughs' *The Efficiency Expert*, the narrative follows James Torrance, Jr., a celebrated athlete and boxer at a prestigious university who graduates with honors only to face immediate financial ruin due to gambling debts. Despite his father's offer of funds to return home, Jimmy chooses to stay in Chicago to prove himself. After a brief, unsuccessful stint as a milk-wagon driver during a strike, he works as a waiter at Feinheimer's restaurant. There, he defends two young women, Harriet Holden and Elizabeth Compton, from harassment, an act of chivalry that haunts him when he is subsequently fired. Desperate and penniless, Jimmy pawns his watch and struggles against the suspicion of society, including his former friend known as 'The Lizard,' a safecracker. He eventually accepts a position as an 'efficiency expert' at the International Machine Company, a role that turns out to be a trap orchestrated by the company's owner, Mr. Compton, who is being blackmailed by Jimmy's friend, Steve Murray. The plot thickens when Mr. Compton is found dead in his office, and Jimmy is framed for the murder. As the trial approaches, Jimmy faces the potential loss of his reputation and freedom. The story builds to a dramatic courtroom climax where the truth is revealed through the testimony of The Lizard and the intervention of Harriet and Elizabeth. The defense is further strengthened by the revelation that the real culprit, Harold Bince, attempted to flee the courtroom upon being exposed. Although Jimmy's friend Harold Bince dies in the chaos, Jimmy is acquitted. The novel concludes with Jimmy accepting a legitimate position at the factory, having learned the value of integrity over ambition. The narrative also mourns the loss of Little Eva, a kind-hearted girl who died of pneumonia before seeing Jimmy's freedom. Through its exploration of class prejudice, corporate corruption, and the enduring power of friendship, the book champions the virtues of chivalry and moral courage.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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