The Squirrel-Cage

The novel opens in the grand, yet lived‑in, home of the Emery family, a symbol of generations of hard work and careful planning. From a modest cottage built in the 1870s to a sprawling, tastefully decorated mansion, the house mirrors the family’s climb into Endbury’s elite circles. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emery, take pride in the tangible proof of their perseverance, while their four adult children navigate the expectations that come with such a legacy.

The story follows the eldest siblings, George and Marietta, as they confront the subtle rivalry with the neighboring Hollister clan, the town’s original aristocracy. A seemingly polite social exchange at a dinner reveals underlying resentments about taste, status, and the cost of ambition. As old memories of struggle surface, the characters must decide whether to cling to their hard‑won dignity or risk the humiliation that lingers behind polished façades.