The Eyes of the World

"The Eyes of the World" by Harold Bell Wright is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around themes of inheritance, personal struggle, and societal expectations, as it begins with the poignant scene of a dying woman whose son is returning home to confront both his family's past and his own destiny. At the start of the novel, we meet a gravely ill woman, identified as Mary, who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her son, Aaron King. As she lies in a stark, almost bare room, her thoughts are consumed by the legacy she wishes to pass on to him. When Aaron finally arrives, they share a heartfelt conversation where she reveals the sacrifices she made for his education and upbringing. Meanwhile, the narrative hints at Aaron's journey toward self-discovery, suggesting that he will be tested as he navigates his future in California, a place marked by both opportunity and societal complications. The opening chapters set the tone for a story that promises to explore deep emotional connections and the impact of familial ties while weaving in broader social commentary. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Harold Bell Wright was a best-selling American writer of fiction, essays, and nonfiction. Although mostly forgotten or ignored after the middle of the 20th century, he had a very successful career; he is said to have been the first American writer to sell a million copies of a novel and the first to make $1 million from writing fiction. Between 1902 and 1942 Wright wrote 19 books, several stage plays, and many magazine articles. More than 15 movies were made or claimed to be made from Wright's stories, including Gary Cooper's first major movie, The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926) and the John Wayne film The Shepherd of the Hills (1941).