The Pit: A Story of Chicago (The Epic of the Wheat, Book 2)

421, [3] pp. 8vo. The second book in Norris's The Epic of the Wheat, following The Octopus. The series was planned to be a trilogy, though Norris died before he was able to write the third installment. "The plot revolves around Laura Dearborn, a young woman being courted by three men: Curtis Jadwin, Sheldon Corthell, and Landry Court. She married Jadwin, who over time loses interest in her as he gets more involved in wheat speculation at the Chicago Board of Trade. As his risky investments start to lead him to ruin, Laura reunites with Corthell, but she eventually rebuffs him. Jadwin's fortunes turn as he is able to corner the market and ruin even good friends, but in time his luck runs out, and he is ruined. He turns his attention back to his wife, and they leave Chicago, heading West to start fresh."