The Big Town

'The Big Town: How I and the Mrs. Go to New York to See Life and Get Katie a Husband' is a sharp-witted satirical novel by Ring Lardner, one of America’s most celebrated humorists. The story follows a trio from South Bend, Indiana-the cynical narrator, his status-seeking wife, and her sister Katie-as they relocate to New York City with a singular, ambitious goal: finding a wealthy and suitable husband for Katie. Through a series of misadventures in the city’s grand hotels, racetracks, and elite social circles, Lardner skewers the pretensions of the nouveau riche and the superficiality of the Jazz Age elite.Written in Lardner’s signature vernacular style, the work captures the authentic voice of the common man observing the absurdities of high society. The narrative offers a biting yet hilarious critique of social climbing and the pursuit of the American dream during the Roaring Twenties. As the characters navigate the complexities of the 'Big Town,' readers are treated to a masterclass in irony and dialogue that remains as insightful today as it was in the early twentieth century. 'The Big Town' stands as a foundational piece of American humor, showcasing Lardner’s unrivaled ability to find the profound in the mundane and the ridiculous in the refined.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.