This classic novel explores the social and economic upheaval of mid-19th century Germany through the story of a young businessman's rise to success. The book is both a critique of the capitalist system and a celebration of the virtues of hard work and self-reliance. Readers interested in European literature and social history will find this book compelling. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.