The Trilogy of The Epic of the Wheat includes the
following novels:
- THE OCTOPUS, a Story of California.
- THE PIT, a Story of Chicago.
- THE WOLF, a Story of Europe.
These novels, while forming a series, will be in no way
connected with each other save only in their relation to
(I) the production, (2) the distribution, (3) the
consumption of American wheat. When complete, they will
form the story of a crop of wheat from the time of its sowing
as seed in California to the time of its consumption as
bread in a village of Western Europe.
The first novel, "The Octopus," deals with the war
between the wheat grower and the Railroad Trust; the
second, " The Pit," is the fictitious narrative of a
"deal" in the Chicago wheat pit; while the third, "The
Wolf," will probably have for its pivotal episode the
relieving of a famine in an Old World community.
The author's most sincere thanks for assistance rendered
in the preparation of the following novel are due
to Mr. G. D. Moulson of New York, Whose unwearied
patience and untiring kindness helped him to the better
understanding of the technical difficult J ies of a Very
complicated subject. And more especially he herewith
acknowledges his unmeasured obligation and gratitude
to Her Who Helped the Most of All.
F. N.
NEW YORK
June 4, 1901.
