The Conflict

Name: The Conflict
Author: David Graham Phillips

By David Graham Phillips

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

American Literature Gender & Sexuality Studies

About This Book

An educated young woman returns to her Midwestern industrial hometown after years abroad, restless about a prescribed future of marriage and domesticity. She tests and manipulates suitors with practiced charm while dismissing the limited roles available to women, resenting the expectation to subsume ambition into domestic life. Encounters with admirers reveal conflicts between personal autonomy and social pressure, exposing male vanity, political ambition, and class assumptions. The narrative examines gender norms, sexual politics, and the hypocrisies of small‑town society as she seeks meaningful purpose beyond marriage.

About the Author

David Graham Phillips

David Graham Phillips was an American novelist and journalist active in the early 20th century, known for his contributions to social criticism and fiction. His works often explored themes of morality, society, and the complexities of human relationships. One of his notable novels, "Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise," reflects his keen insight into the struggles of women in a changing society. Phillips was also recognized for his investigative journalism, which aimed to expose corruption and advocate for reform. His literary legacy includes a diverse array of novels that capture the spirit of his time.