The March Family Trilogy

In his first novel Howells introduces to us the March Family from Boston, a newly married couple. The story follows Basil and Isabel March on their honeymoon journey to New York and Hudson River, then west to Niagara Falls and finally to Quebec and Montreal. The story continues in A Hazard of New Fortunes when Marches, now with children, move from Boston to New York. The book, which takes place in late 19th century New York City, tells the story of Basil March, who finds himself in the middle of a dispute between his employer, a self-made millionaire and his old German teacher, an advocate for workers' rights. Finally, the story of the March family is completed in Their Silver Wedding Journey where Howells follows Basil and Isabel on their trip to Germany.