From the book
The Web of Life, by
Robert Herrick first printed in
1900. He was an early American realist, and one really engaged with all the Gothic trappings of our then fresh industrialization. He's the American answer to George Gissing. Of his 13 books this is generally
considered by critics to be his best. Due to the wonderment of public domain you can download it free if you can find it. It was on Google Books, but has been mysteriously withdrawn.
"Thus the body social threw out much smoke, but no vital heat; here and there, the red glare of violence burst up through the dust of words and the insufferable cant of the world."
considered by critics to be his best. Due to the wonderment of public domain you can download it free if you can find it. It was on Google Books, but has been mysteriously withdrawn. 
