The Lion and the Mouse; a Story of an American Life

"The Lion and the Mouse; a Story of an American Life" by Charles Klein and Arthur Hornblow is a novel written in the early 20th century during a time of significant economic and social turbulence in America. The story delves into the life of John Burkett Ryder, a powerful and wealthy railroad magnate whose unscrupulous methods and obsession with wealth come into conflict with the ideals of honesty and morality represented by Judge Rossmore. The opening of the novel sets the stage in the bustling offices of the Southern and Transcontinental Railroad Company, capturing the tension as directors prepare for a crucial meeting. Their fears are focused on a legal injunction affecting the railroad's operations, a situation exacerbated by Ryder's increasingly corrupt tactics and the unyielding integrity of Judge Rossmore. Key characters are introduced, including Ryder, alongside his son Jefferson, who ultimately diverges from his father's unethical business practices to seek a different path, illustrating the generational conflict over morality and the cost of wealth. The complexity of their relationships and the rich backdrop of early 20th-century capitalism provide a gripping narrative as the story unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Klein was an English-born playwright and actor who emigrated to America in 1883. After moving to New York City in 1883, Klein began acting. He began writing by 1890, soon working for producer Charles Frohman. Among his works was the libretto of John Philip Sousa's operetta, El Capitan (1896). He wrote melodrama and dramatic plays in the first 15 years of the 20th century.