
Emma McChesney runs a bustling New York office with the poise of a seasoned conductor, directing the Featherloom Petticoat Company while keeping a keen eye on every sales route. Her partner, the ebullient T. A. Buck, constantly interrupts her with jokes and rumors, but Emma meets each intrusion with a sharp smile and an even sharper retort. The opening scene captures their lively banter, hinting at the delicate balance Emma maintains between fierce business ambition and a lingering affection for her son.
When Buck bursts in with gossip about a rival tailor’s flamboyant white suit, Emma instantly switches from conversation to investigation, dialing the tailor and plotting her next move. This snap decision reveals her relentless drive to stay ahead in a cut‑throat market, while also exposing the subtle undercurrents of jealousy and loyalty that color her relationships. The scene sets the stage for a journey that will take Emma from the crowded streets of Broadway to the far‑flung horizons of Buenos Aires, promising both business challenges and personal reckonings.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (237K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charles Keller. HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
1996-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1885–1968
A sharp-eyed chronicler of American ambition, she turned stories of the Midwest, the frontier, and show business into bestselling fiction. Her work gave rise to classics including So Big, Show Boat, Cimarron, and Giant.
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