"Gain" is a thought-provoking novel that intertwines the history of a powerful American corporation with the personal story of a woman battling cancer. The book follows the rise of Clare International, a chemical and consumer goods company, from its humble beginnings in the 19th century to its global dominance. Parallel to this corporate saga, the novel tells the story of Laura Bodey, a woman living in a town where the company operates, who is diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
As the narrative shifts between the corporation’s history and Laura’s personal struggle, Gain explores themes of industrial progress, capitalism, and its consequences on human lives. Richard Powers masterfully blends historical depth with emotional storytelling, raising profound questions about corporate responsibility, environmental impact, and the true cost of economic success.
This novel is a compelling and deeply insightful examination of the intersection between business and personal destiny, making it a significant work in contemporary literature.
From Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Overstory, Richard Powers's Gain braids together two stories on very different scales.
In one, Laura Body, divorced mother of two and a real-estate agent in the small town of Lacewood, Illinois, plunges into a new existence when she learns that she has ovarian cancer. In the other, Clare & Company, a soap manufacturer begun by three brothers in nineteenth-century Boston, grows over the course of a century and a half into an international consumer products conglomerate based in Laura's hometown. Clare's stunning growth reflects the kaleidoscopic history of America; Laura Body's life is changed forever by Clare.
| Vendor | EnglishBookHouse |
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