Book excerpt: This is a story of love, friendship, and class conflict, set in early 20th century America. A group of children from two families play in the yard and grow together as the financial gap between their parents grows. As one family gets richer and moves to the mansion, the ties between the children fade. Finally, they reunite in adulthood, and the classic opposition between the rich and the poor arises. As a boy from the rich house falls in love with the girl from the workman's house and his sister falls in love with the boy from the workmen's house, the conflict between the two families is set afire. Next, there is a strike, a murder, an explosion, and many more.