Work of Art

Work of Art came out in 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression with FDR in power and Prohibition on its last legs. It covers roughly 30 years of the Weagle brothers’ life. No one is truly likable in this hotel romp but most of the characters are well-sketched out and recognizable as genuinely human and imperfect. It will teach you everything you ever wanted to know (but dreaded asking!) about hotel management in the 1920s and 1930s. This novel about two brothers--Ora and Myron Weagle--wanting to “make it big” in early 20th century Connecticut is a somewhat satirical or maybe ironic take on the rags to riches story. If anything it captures the social mores of suburban and small-town America with diversions through New York and other American urban landmarks. Ori wants to be a successful author while Myron wants to run the most elaborate and best-appointed hotels in the world at least in the US.