Rebecca Blaine Harding Davis fue una autora y periodista estadounidense, considerada pionera del realismo literario en la literatura de su país. A través de su obra, abordó deliberadamente la difícil situación de los grupos marginados del siglo XIX, incluyendo a personas negras, mujeres, nativos americanos, inmigrantes y la clase trabajadora. Su escritura buscaba generar un cambio social al destacar sus luchas. Un influyente texto publicado en 1861 la estableció rápidamente como una escritora reconocida, forjando su legado literario.
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.