The nine-tenths follows a printer whose life is transformed by a tragic fire that kills several female workers in his shop. What begins as a story of steady labor shifts into an exploration of guilt, conscience, and social inequality. The protagonist, once committed to routine and family, especially his mother and a woman he quietly admires, is shaken by the disaster and begins to question his purpose. His emotional turmoil pushes him to consider the conditions of the working class and the injustices they face, leading to a painful but determined search for meaning beyond profit and survival. As he moves through the industrial city, the physical environment echoes his moral confusion and need for renewal. The novel does not resolve through romantic fulfillment or business recovery but instead focuses on the evolution of a man forced to awaken to structural suffering and personal responsibility. Through restrained prose and tightly focused inner dialogue, the book captures the emotional and societal weight of a world driven by profit at the expense of human life.
James Oppenheim was an American poet, novelist, and editor known for his literary contributions during the early 20th century. Born on May 24, 1882, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he was the son of James Oppenheim Sr. and Pauline Oppenheim. He was educated at Columbia University and became closely involved with progressive cultural and intellectual movements. As a lay analyst and an early follower of Carl Jung, his writing often reflected psychological insight and a strong interest in human consciousness and social justice. He was deeply influenced by the labor struggles of the era and infused his fiction and poetry with themes of class, work, and personal transformation. In addition to his literary work, Oppenheim co-founded and served as editor of The Seven Arts, a short-lived but influential literary magazine that provided a platform for progressive and experimental voices in American literature. His most recognized work, the poem “Bread and Roses,” became associated with the labor movement. He died in New York on August 4, 1932, leaving behind a body of work that reflected the moral and psychological tensions of his time.
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