What Answer? is a late 19th-century American novel that explores themes of ambition, love, race, and social conflict within the rapidly changing environment of New York City. It is significant as a social issue–driven work that reflects the moral and political concerns of post–Civil War America, particularly around identity, labour, and class divisions.
The story follows William Surrey, a young man navigating personal desire and societal expectations while encountering both romantic attraction and ethical dilemmas. Through 19th century American social issue fiction, the novel examines how urban life intensifies questions of privilege, responsibility, and human connection. The narrative contrasts elite social settings with the realities of labour and racial inequality, particularly through tensions arising in industrial environments. This aligns with race and labour themes American literature, where personal relationships are deeply influenced by broader structural injustices. The unfolding events challenge the protagonist to reconcile emotional impulses with moral and social accountability.
The work contributes to American realist and reform literature by combining romance with social critique. It reflects Anna E. Dickinson’s broader engagement with political and cultural issues, using fiction to question inequality and advocate awareness of social conditions.
"Anna Elizabeth Dickinson was an American orator, lecturer, and writer known for her powerful public speaking and reformist activism during the 19th century. Born on October 28, 1842, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she rose to national prominence as one of the earliest female political voices in the United States.
Dickinson was a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery and for women’s rights, using lectures and public addresses to challenge social injustice and inequality. She made history as the first woman to deliver a political speech before the United States Congress, marking a significant milestone in American civic participation. Through 19th century American social issue fiction, her associated literary and reform-oriented writings reflect concerns with morality, race, labour, and social progress, often blending narrative with political commentary. This aligns with Anna E. Dickinson political and social commentary writing, where her intellectual work extends beyond performance into literature that engages with urgent societal debates.
She died on October 22, 1932, in Goshen, New York, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering public speaker and reform advocate whose work helped shape early movements for equality and civil rights in the United States."
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