Character Is Capital: Success Manuals and Manhood in Gilded Age America

by Judy Hilkey

Overview

In late nineteenth-century America, a new type of book became commonplace in millions of homes across the country. Volumes sporting such titles as The Way to Win and Onward to Fame and Fortune promised to show young men how to succeed in life. But despite their upbeat titles, success manuals offered neither practical business advice nor a simple celebration of the American Dream. Instead, as Judy Hilkey reveals, they presented a dire picture of an uncertain new age, portraying life in the newly industrialized nation as a brutal struggle for survival, but arguing that adherence to old-fashioned virtues enabled any determined man to succeed. Hilkey offers a cultural history of success manuals and the industry that produced and marketed them. She examines the books' appearance, iconography, and intended audience--primarily native-born, rural and small-town men of modest means and education--and explores the genre's use of gendered language to equate manhood with success, femininity with failure. Ultimately, argues Hilkey, by articulating a worldview that helped legitimate the new social order to those most threatened by it, success manuals urged readers to accommodate themselves to the demands of life in the industrial age.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807862032
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	11/09/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Judy Hilkey, who holds a Ph.D. in history, is senior counselor at the Center for Worker Education, City College of New York, CUNY.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. The Success Manual of the Gilded Age Chapter 2. The Success Manual Authors and Their World Chapter 3. Inspiration for the Battle of Life: The Possibility of Success Despite Difficulty Chapter 4. Success or Failure—Which? The Exigency of Success and the Efficacy of the New Industrial Order Chapter 5. Choosing a Calling: Old and New in the World of Work Chapter 6. Character Is Capital: The Moral Definition of a New Middle Class Chapter 7. Manhood Is Everything: The Masculinization and Democratization of Success Chapter 8. Conclusion: Beyond Success Notes Bibliography Index

A section of illustrations

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Interpretive restraint, careful presentation of evidence, and clear, direct writing make this a model monograph."American Historical Review



Hilkey has written an exemplary academic monograph. Clearly organized and sharply written, it bears upon several important scholarly issues without sacrificing the integrity of its own narrative.—Canadian Review of American Studies



Hilkey's book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America. Everyone interested in American cultural history, literary history, gender, ideals of success in American culture, and Gilded Age America will want to take notice of this important book.—Maryland Historical Magazine



An intriguing and well documented look at a neglected genre of nonfiction. Hilkey demonstrates wide knowledge of the subject (including present-day self-help books) and an ability to integrate these success manuals into the broader history of that tumultuous period knows as the Gilded Age.—AB Bookman's Weekly



Character is Capital is an original and suggestive book on an important topic. Hilkey's multi-faceted examination of subscription success books enables her to recapture and analyze the vision of American life this literature offered. Her analysis of [the books'] language provides an exemplary treatment of the way writers use words to construct culture.—Daniel Horowitz, Smith College

Editorial Reviews

Hilkey s book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America.

"Maryland Historical Magazine"

Hilkey 's book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America.

"Maryland Historical Magazine"

Hilkey_s book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America.

"Maryland Historical Magazine"

Hilkeya[s book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America.

"Maryland Historical Magazine"

"Character is Capital" is an original and suggestive book on an important topic.

Daniel Horowitz, Smith College

Hilkeys book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America.

"Maryland Historical Magazine"

Interpretive restraint, careful presentation of evidence, and clear, direct writing make this a model monograph.

"American Historical Review"

""Character is Capital" is an original and suggestive book on an important topic.

Daniel Horowitz, Smith College"

"Interpretive restraint, careful presentation of evidence, and clear, direct writing make this a model monograph.

"American Historical Review""

An intriguing and well documented look at a neglected genre of nonfiction. Hilkey demonstrates wide knowledge of the subject .

"AB Bookman's Weekly"

Hilkey has written an exemplary academic monograph.

"Canadian Review of American Studies"

HilkeyUs book is a significant contribution to debates on ideals of success and manhood in America.

"Maryland Historical Magazine"

From the Publisher