This novel focuses on the power of the press and the fight for social justice in the early 20th century. It follows a young idealistic journalist who takes on corruption and powerful interests through his work at a newspaper called The Clarion. Adams uses this story to highlight the role of investigative journalism in exposing social and political wrongs, weaving in themes of integrity, responsibility, and the influence of media in shaping public opinion.
Samuel Hopkins Adams (1871--1958) was an American author, born in Dunkirk, New York. He served as a reporter for the New York Sun before joining McClure’s Magazine, where he became a crusader for improved governmental oversight of public issues like patent medicines. He is credited with influencing the passage of the first Pure Food and Drugs Act. His books include Revelry (1926), The Great American Fraud (1906), The Harvey Girls (1942), Grandfather Stories (1955), and Tenderloin (1959).