Rebecca Blaine Harding Davis fu un'autrice e giornalista americana, considerata una pioniera del realismo letterario nella letteratura americana. Attraverso la sua scrittura, affrontò deliberatamente le difficoltà dei gruppi emarginati del XIX secolo, tra cui persone di colore, donne, nativi americani, immigrati e la classe lavoratrice. La sua opera mirava a promuovere un cambiamento sociale evidenziando le loro lotte. Un testo influente pubblicato nel 1861 la rese rapidamente un'autrice riconosciuta, plasmando la sua eredità letteraria.
Rebecca Harding Davis's classic story illustrates the desperately hard lives of immigrants working in an American industrial town. The language has been updated for modern readers, but the plot and characters are just as she told them. Includes the original version in an appendix and an essay from a modern scholar.
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century industrial America, the story follows Margret Howth, a determined orphan who works as a clerk in a cotton mill. As she navigates the harsh realities faced by industrial workers, the narrative highlights the socio-economic challenges and personal aspirations in a time of inequality. Margret's romantic entanglements with various suitors reflect different societal facets, while the novel critiques the tensions between the working class and the industrial elite. It is notable for its realistic depiction of industrial life and early feminist themes.