The Big Town Summary
Ring Lardner

The Big Town Summary

The subtitle of this collection of reated stories defines Lardner's theme and plot: "How I and the Mrs. go to see New York to see life and get Katie a husband." Getting his sister-inlaw a husband leads Tom Finch, the "wise boob" narrator of the five stories, to contrast life in South Bend, Indiana, with that of booming post-war New York City. The autobiographical element in the stories — the Lardners made the same migration and even stayed at the Long Island hotel featured in two of the stories — led Lardner to include a humorous disclaimer in the 1925 edition. But clearly Tom Finch's midwestern reservations about the spendthrift habits and dubious manners and morals of the big town reflect an aspect of Lardner's own response to New York City at the beginning of the Roaring Twenties. "I just want to be where they's...

(read more from the Short Guide)