The Bread-Winners (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

By John Hay

This 1883 novel about the struggle between labor and industry focuses on the 1877 railway strike. Its plot comes down squarely in favor of the latter—causing a sensation upon its anonymous publication. Many names were advanced as possible authors, but circumstantial evidence, as well as handwriting analysis, conclusively pointed to Hay, who until his death steadfastly denied authorship. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Release date: Apr 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781411447929

John Hay

John Hay is a debut picture book author who loves funny stories. He first started making them up when his son was small and although his son is now grown up, John still tries to make him laugh. John lives in London with his wife and two bad cats.

Reviews for The Bread-Winners (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

[mrlzbth_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I picked this up because I was reading a biography of John Hay and thought it would be fun to read his novel, which made quite a stir when it was first published. It definitely did shed some light on Hay's mindset, and there are quite a few lines and moments that are unintentionally very entertaining for a modern reader, but I can't say I was left feeling like it's a terrible thing that the book is so little read these days.

If you're really interested in John Hay or in class conflict in 19th century Ohio from the perspective of the wealthy, this is worth taking a look at. Otherwise you can probably leave it on the shelf without missing out on too much...