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Oil! · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Oil! by Upton Sinclair.

  1. Chapter 1

    Oil!

    The opening chapter introduces the Ross family and their move to California, where Bunny Ross begins to navigate the world of oil speculation, class dynamics, and family morality. The chapter sets the stage for the central conflicts around wealth, corruption, and the American Dream.

  2. Chapter 2

    I: The Ride

    J. Arnold Ross drives with his son Bunny through California, reflecting on his rise from teamster to oil operator. Bunny's mind wanders, observing nature, poverty, and the harshness of life. They stop at a filling station and a café, where Dad's generosity and business acumen are on display. A speed cop chase adds excitement, and they continue their journey, discussing the landscape and the oil business.

  3. Chapter 3

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  4. Chapter 4

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  5. Chapter 5

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  6. Chapter 6

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  7. Chapter 7

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  8. Chapter 8

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  9. Chapter 9

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  10. Chapter 10

    II: The Lease

    Bunny Ross is heartbroken after Paul Watkins runs away, refusing his father's money. Meanwhile, J. Arnold Ross gives a persuasive speech to landowners about signing an oil lease on Prospect Hill, using threats of taking his business elsewhere to force agreement. During the tense meeting, Bunny is approached by a mysterious figure outside the window—Paul Watkins, who has run away from home and asks Bunny to help him get food from the kitchen. Bunny, moved by Paul's voice and story, agrees to help.

  11. Chapter 11

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  12. Chapter 12

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  13. Chapter 13

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  14. Chapter 14

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  15. Chapter 15

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  16. Chapter 16

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  17. Chapter 17

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  18. Chapter 18

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  19. Chapter 19

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  20. Chapter 20

    III: The Drilling

    Dad Ross teaches Bunny the oil business, emphasizing practical knowledge over book learning. The Ross family moves to a new town with grandmother and Aunt Emma, who pursue genteel hobbies. Meanwhile, the Bonanza Syndicate collapses, ruining small investors like Mrs. Groarty and Mr. Dumpery, while Dad's Ross-Bankside No. 1 well succeeds. Bunny learns drilling operations and the harsh realities of the oil game.

  21. Chapter 21

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  22. Chapter 22

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  23. Chapter 23

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  24. Chapter 24

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  25. Chapter 25

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  26. Chapter 26

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  27. Chapter 27

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  28. Chapter 28

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  29. Chapter 29

    IV: The Ranch

    Bunny and Dad Ross discover oil on the Watkins ranch, leading Dad to buy the land cheaply while concealing its value. Bunny meets Ruth Watkins and learns of Paul's anger over the sale, deepening his moral conflict about deception. Bunny also visits his mother, Mrs. Lang, and becomes entangled in family secrets and adult hypocrisy, further developing his dual inner life.

  30. Chapter 30

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  31. Chapter 31

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  32. Chapter 32

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  33. Chapter 33

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  34. Chapter 34

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  35. Chapter 35

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  36. Chapter 36

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  37. Chapter 37

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  38. Chapter 38

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  39. Chapter 39

    V: The Revelation

    Bunny navigates high school and his father's wealth amid World War I, grappling with Dad's double standards on morality and business. A trip to Paradise reunites him with Paul Watkins, now a mature, educated young man estranged from his father. Bunny dreams of using his father's money to help Paul and Ruth, while receiving a 'serious talk' from Dad about cars, smoking, drinking, and women.

  40. Chapter 40

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  41. Chapter 41

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  42. Chapter 42

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  43. Chapter 43

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  44. Chapter 44

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  45. Chapter 45

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  46. Chapter 46

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  47. Chapter 47

    VI: The Wildcat

    Bunny and Dad celebrate the Paradise well catching fire, realizing it signals a massive oil strike. Dad hires Paul Watkins to build a modern bunkhouse with amenities, reflecting Bunny's reformist ideals. Dad manipulates local politics to get a road built to the well, demonstrating his growing power. Bunny reflects on his parents' separation and his father's distrust of women, while his relationship with Rosie Taintor fades as he matures.

  48. Chapter 48

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  49. Chapter 49

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  50. Chapter 50

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  51. Chapter 51

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  52. Chapter 52

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  53. Chapter 53

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  54. Chapter 54

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  55. Chapter 55

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  56. Chapter 56

    VII: The Strike

    Bunny Ross grapples with the realities of class conflict as a strike looms in the Paradise oil field. His father, Dad Ross, is bound by the Employers' Federation and unable to meet workers' demands for an eight-hour day and wage increases, despite Bunny's growing sympathy for the union cause. The chapter explores the tension between capital and labor, the constraints of business alliances, and Bunny's ideological awakening as he questions the system that controls their lives.

  57. Chapter 57

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  58. Chapter 58

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  59. Chapter 59

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  60. Chapter 60

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  61. Chapter 61

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  62. Chapter 62

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  63. Chapter 63

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  64. Chapter 64

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  65. Chapter 65

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  66. Chapter 66

    VIII: The War

    Bunny struggles with his intense and manipulative relationship with Eunice Hoyt, a wealthy and sexually forward girl, while visiting his father in Paradise and witnessing Paul Watkins's disillusionment with army life. The chapter contrasts the war's impact on different social classes—Paul's low army pay versus Tommy Hoyt's millions and Dad's oil profits—and explores Bunny's moral conflict between his desire for Eunice and his sense of propriety, as well as his growing awareness of the hypocrisy and chaos of the world around him.

  67. Chapter 67

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  68. Chapter 68

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  69. Chapter 69

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  70. Chapter 70

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  71. Chapter 71

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  72. Chapter 72

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  73. Chapter 73

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  74. Chapter 74

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  75. Chapter 75

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  76. Chapter 76

    IX: The Victory

    Bunny finishes his first term of school and goes on a family excursion to visit Paul at an army cantonment. He discusses college with Dad, who reluctantly accepts Bunny's desire for more education. During the visit, Paul offers a sympathetic view of the Russian Revolution, contrasting with Dad's hostility. Bunny later joins the army himself, is assigned to military transportation due to his oil knowledge, and returns home on furlough to learn about Dad's new corporate venture, Ross Consolidated.

  77. Chapter 77

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  78. Chapter 78

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  79. Chapter 79

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  80. Chapter 80

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  81. Chapter 81

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  82. Chapter 82

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  83. Chapter 83

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  84. Chapter 84

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  85. Chapter 85

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  86. Chapter 86

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  87. Chapter 87

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  88. Chapter 88

    X: The University

    Bunny Ross, now a university student, becomes increasingly radicalized under the influence of instructor Daniel Webster Irving, while his father grows suspicious of his son's political leanings. Bunny attempts to bridge the gap by inviting Irving to Paradise, but tensions escalate when Bunny's brother-in-law Eldon Burdick confronts him about his Bolshevik sympathies. Meanwhile, Bunny receives a brief note from Paul Watkins, who is serving in Siberia, and his father explains the Allied campaign against Bolshevism. Bunny also learns from Irving that the secret treaties Paul had warned about are genuine, shaking his faith in the official narrative.

  89. Chapter 89

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  90. Chapter 90

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  91. Chapter 91

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  92. Chapter 92

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  93. Chapter 93

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  94. Chapter 94

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  95. Chapter 95

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  96. Chapter 96

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  97. Chapter 97

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  98. Chapter 98

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  99. Chapter 99

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  100. Chapter 100

    XI: The Rebel

    Bunny Ross, a wealthy student at Southern Pacific University, defies social norms by associating with outcasts like Peter Nagle, Gregor Nikolaieff, and Rachel Menzies. He tries to bridge class divides but faces criticism from both his fraternity brothers and the radicals. Inspired by a Socialist meeting featuring Harry Seager, Bunny and his friends consider starting a student paper to promote free speech and truth about Russia, despite his father's fears.

  101. Chapter 101

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  102. Chapter 102

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  103. Chapter 103

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  104. Chapter 104

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  105. Chapter 105

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  106. Chapter 106

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  107. Chapter 107

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  108. Chapter 108

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  109. Chapter 109

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  110. Chapter 110

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  111. Chapter 111

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  112. Chapter 112

    XII: The Siren

    Bunny finishes his second year at Southern Pacific, disillusioned with the institution's dull courses and lack of original thinking. He debates returning, finding more freedom at Paradise where Paul Watkins has returned to work as a boss-carpenter and is deeply involved in labor activism, turning the Rascum cabin into a 'Bolshevik nest.' Bunny struggles with his father's relentless focus on oil production and the looming threat of a strike. Vernon Roscoe visits, bringing news of a plan to buy the Republican convention to nominate Senator Harding, which Bunny reluctantly accepts despite his misgivings. The chapter ends with the convention in Chicago, where Roscoe's behind-the-scenes deals succeed.

  113. Chapter 113

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  114. Chapter 114

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  115. Chapter 115

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  116. Chapter 116

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  117. Chapter 117

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  118. Chapter 118

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  119. Chapter 119

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  120. Chapter 120

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  121. Chapter 121

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  122. Chapter 122

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  123. Chapter 123

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  124. Chapter 124

    XII

    Bunny Ross listens to election returns on the radio, reflecting on the drunken celebrations of the ruling class during Prohibition. He recalls past revelries at the Admiralty Hotel with his father, Vee Tracy, Annabelle Ames, Vernon Roscoe, and others, highlighting the hypocrisy of law enforcement and the connection between political victories and excess.

  125. Chapter 125

    XIII: The Monastery

    Bunny Ross grapples with the ideological divides within the labor movement, attending a Socialist local meeting with the Menzies family and later dining with film stars at the Monastery, where he encounters the sharp-tongued actress Vee Tracy.

  126. Chapter 126

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  127. Chapter 127

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  128. Chapter 128

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  129. Chapter 129

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  130. Chapter 130

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  131. Chapter 131

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  132. Chapter 132

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  133. Chapter 133

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  134. Chapter 134

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  135. Chapter 135

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  136. Chapter 136

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  137. Chapter 137

    XII

    Bunny Ross listens to election returns on the radio, reflecting on the drunken celebrations of the ruling class during Prohibition. He recalls past revelries at the Admiralty Hotel with his father, Vee Tracy, Annabelle Ames, Vernon Roscoe, and others, highlighting the hypocrisy of law enforcement and the connection between political victories and excess.

  138. Chapter 138

    XIV: The Star

    Bunny returns to Angel City and becomes entangled in the struggles of the labor college and the oil workers' union. He hears Vee Tracy's candid account of her past in the film industry, confronting the harsh realities of exploitation and survival. Meanwhile, in Paradise, union activists are blacklisted, and the labor movement is fractured by infighting among moderates, Socialists, Communists, and I.W.W. members, all while facing repression from capital and the state.

  139. Chapter 139

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  140. Chapter 140

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  141. Chapter 141

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  142. Chapter 142

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  143. Chapter 143

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  144. Chapter 144

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  145. Chapter 145

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  146. Chapter 146

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  147. Chapter 147

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  148. Chapter 148

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  149. Chapter 149

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  150. Chapter 150

    XII

    Bunny Ross listens to election returns on the radio, reflecting on the drunken celebrations of the ruling class during Prohibition. He recalls past revelries at the Admiralty Hotel with his father, Vee Tracy, Annabelle Ames, Vernon Roscoe, and others, highlighting the hypocrisy of law enforcement and the connection between political victories and excess.

  151. Chapter 151

    XIII

    Paul Watkins, delirious from illness, speaks in Russian about revolutionary scenes, while Bunny Ross reflects on the contrasting world of capitalist excess and jazz-age decadence in the Emperor Hotel ballroom.

  152. Chapter 152

    XIV

    Paul Watkins, in a state of violent delirium, is restrained by Bunny, Gregor, Ruth, and Rachel as he relives past traumas. Meanwhile, a raucous radio broadcast celebrating Calvin Coolidge's election victory contrasts starkly with Paul's suffering. Ruth, distraught, believes Paul is trying to speak to her, and after he dies, she attempts to throw herself from the window but is stopped. The chapter ends with a news bulletin announcing Coolidge's landslide victory.

  153. Chapter 153

    XV

    The chapter describes the aftermath of Paul Watkins's death, including the conflict over his funeral between the Communists and his family, Eli's insistence on a Third Revelation burial, and the tragic suicide of Ruth Watkins, who drowns herself in the discovery well. The narrative reflects on the destructive power of oil and capitalism.

  154. Chapter 154

    XVI

    Bunny Ross encounters Rachel Menzies on campus, who apologizes for her earlier outburst but remains fiercely critical of Vee Tracy's role in a propaganda film about Russia. Rachel argues that the film is part of the 'white terror' and likens Vee to a prostitute for selling herself to produce such a picture. Bunny, caught between his sympathy for Rachel's cause and his desire to defend Vee, decides to postpone any attempt at reconciliation between the two women.

  155. Chapter 155

    XV: The Vacation

    Bunny confronts Vernon Roscoe about a new wage cut, but Roscoe dismisses him with threats and boasts of buying labor leaders and politicians. Dad and Vee plan a vacation in Canada to keep Bunny away from the impending strike. Bunny receives a telegram from Ruth Watkins that Paul and others have been arrested for criminal syndicalism. Bunny struggles between his loyalty to Paul and his father's wishes, while Vee tries to persuade him to go on vacation.

  156. Chapter 156

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  157. Chapter 157

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  158. Chapter 158

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  159. Chapter 159

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  160. Chapter 160

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  161. Chapter 161

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  162. Chapter 162

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  163. Chapter 163

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  164. Chapter 164

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  165. Chapter 165

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  166. Chapter 166

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  167. Chapter 167

    XVI: The Killing

    Bunny Ross struggles with his father's world of oil wealth and corruption, encountering an old rancher named Carberry who has been defrauded by Vernon Roscoe. Bunny's relationship with Vee Tracy becomes strained over his friendships with Ruth Watkins and a Socialist girl. The chapter also covers a weekend at the O'Reilly estate, the trial of Joe and Ikey Menzies where Ben Skutt testifies as a surprise witness, and Dad Ross revealing Skutt's past schemes.

  168. Chapter 168

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  169. Chapter 169

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  170. Chapter 170

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  171. Chapter 171

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  172. Chapter 172

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  173. Chapter 173

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  174. Chapter 174

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  175. Chapter 175

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  176. Chapter 176

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  177. Chapter 177

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  178. Chapter 178

    XVII: The Exposure

    Bunny Ross visits the jailed radical oil workers and is deeply moved by their plight. He pressures his father and Vernon Roscoe to secure their release, threatening to speak at a protest meeting and involve Annabelle. Roscoe eventually intervenes, and the prisoners are freed. Later, Bunny negotiates a fund for radical education, offering Rachel Menzies a job to run a socialist paper.

  179. Chapter 179

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  180. Chapter 180

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  181. Chapter 181

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  182. Chapter 182

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  183. Chapter 183

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  184. Chapter 184

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  185. Chapter 185

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  186. Chapter 186

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  187. Chapter 187

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  188. Chapter 188

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  189. Chapter 189

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  190. Chapter 190

    XVIII: The Flight

    Bunny enjoys editing The Young Student with Rachel, while Vee works on a film. Dad recovers from illness but is troubled by the oil lease investigation. The family flees to Europe via Canada, where Bunny learns Paul Watkins has been arrested. In London, Vernon Roscoe boasts about new oil deals and the ongoing scandal.

  191. Chapter 191

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  192. Chapter 192

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  193. Chapter 193

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  194. Chapter 194

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  195. Chapter 195

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  196. Chapter 196

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  197. Chapter 197

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  198. Chapter 198

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  199. Chapter 199

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  200. Chapter 200

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  201. Chapter 201

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  202. Chapter 202

    XIX: The Penalty

    Bunny Ross, now a millionaire after his father's wedding gift of stock, travels back to America. He receives news of his father's sudden illness and death from double pneumonia, experiencing deep remorse and grief. The chapter explores his internal conflict over his father's corrupt business practices and his own socialist ideals, as well as his relationships with Ruth Watkins, Rachel Menzies, and his stepmother Alyse.

  203. Chapter 203

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  204. Chapter 204

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  205. Chapter 205

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  206. Chapter 206

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  207. Chapter 207

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  208. Chapter 208

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  209. Chapter 209

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  210. Chapter 210

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  211. Chapter 211

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  212. Chapter 212

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  213. Chapter 213

    XX: The Dedication

    Bunny returns to New York after his father's death and the catastrophic oil fire, then travels to Washington to meet Dan Irving, who consoles him and discusses the systemic corruption of American business. Bunny commits a thousand dollars a month from his inheritance to Dan's labor press. Later, Bunny gathers a group of old friends—including Rachel, Jacob, Harry, Peter, Gregor, and Dan—to propose a labor college where students live and work communally, aiming to build socialist discipline. The chapter also explores tensions between Bunny's socialist ideals and the practicalities of running a publication, as well as Bertie's aggressive pursuit of her inheritance.

  214. Chapter 214

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  215. Chapter 215

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  216. Chapter 216

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  217. Chapter 217

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  218. Chapter 218

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  219. Chapter 219

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  220. Chapter 220

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  221. Chapter 221

    XXI: The Honeymoon

    Bunny and Rachel, now married, search for a site for a labor college, visiting a potential property near Mount Hope. They also travel to the Prospect Hill oil field, where Bunny shows Rachel the discovery well and explains the waste and exploitation of the oil industry, including the tragic human cost. They visit Mrs. Groarty's bungalow, where Bunny recalls the lease meeting and first hearing Paul Watkins. Later, they attend a meeting where Paul speaks about the Russian Revolution, and Bunny plans to bring Paul back to discuss the college.

  222. Chapter 222

    I

    Bunny Ross searches for a site for a labor college, accompanied by Rachel Menzies. They explore a property near Mount Hope, discussing its potential and the implications of their partnership, while Bunny reflects on memories of his father and the past.

  223. Chapter 223

    II

    Bunny Ross and Rachel Menzies confess their love for each other in a twilight grove, discussing marriage despite concerns about scandal, religion, and social class. Bunny proposes to Rachel, who initially hesitates due to her Jewish identity and his family's expectations, but they ultimately embrace their mutual affection and commitment to the radical movement.

  224. Chapter 224

    III

    Bunny and Rachel marry for practical reasons, then Bunny tells Ruth, who reacts with pleasure. Paul Watkins returns from Russia and speaks at a Labor Temple, causing outrage in the capitalist press. Bunny plans to attend a meeting at the I.W.W. hall with Paul.

  225. Chapter 225

    IV

    Bunny, at Bertie's urging, investigates Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill oil field, taking his wife Rachel to see the wells. He reflects on the waste and danger of capitalist oil extraction, visits Mrs. Groarty's bungalow where the lease meeting was held, and learns about the legal entanglements that have left the Groartys with nothing.

  226. Chapter 226

    V

    Bunny and Rachel, on what should have been their honeymoon, attend a dance but are disturbed by the sound of naval gunfire. Later, they drive to a working-class quarter where a mob raids an IWW hall, throwing children into boiling coffee and beating the occupants. Bunny wants to intervene but Rachel physically restrains him. After the mob leaves, they enter the hall to find chaos and injured people, and Bunny fears Paul has been taken.

  227. Chapter 227

    VI

    Bunny finds Paul beaten and unconscious after a violent attack. He arranges for medical help, and a surgeon diagnoses a skull fracture. Rachel and Bunny stay by Paul's bedside, and Ruth is brought to the hospital, where she collapses in grief over her brother's condition.

  228. Chapter 228

    VII

    After midnight, Rachel persuades Bunny to leave the hospital and rest at a nearby hotel. Bunny cannot sleep and confesses his deep devotion to Paul, describing how Paul gave him an ideal of self-sufficiency and independence, and served as a moral standard throughout his life. Rachel comforts him, but Bunny is haunted by the X-ray of Paul's skull fracture and the violence that extinguished Paul's influence. Rachel reflects on the history of oppression Paul faced from capitalism, the oil operators, and the government.

  229. Chapter 229

    VIII

    Bunny returns to the hospital with Ruth to watch over the unconscious Paul Watkins. The surgeon offers no certainty about Paul's recovery. Bunny sends a telegram to Abel Watkins to bring the family, but decides not to notify Eli. He reads the morning papers, which gloat over the violent suppression of the reds, and reflects on the election campaign—a bitter fight between the oil-backed forces of 'Cautious Cal' and the reformist LaFollette, whose supporters have been crushed by a flood of money and lies.

  230. Chapter 230

    IX

    Bunny and Rachel keep vigil at Paul's bedside in a hospital room, surrounded by the chaotic noise of radio broadcasts and the indifference of the press. Ruth Watkins is consumed by grief. Eli Watkins arrives in a limousine, performs a silent healing ritual, and leaves without effect. The chapter highlights the clash between modern media, religious spectacle, and personal tragedy.

  231. Chapter 231

    X

    Bunny and Rachel watch over the injured Paul Watkins while listening to election returns on the radio. They hear Eli Watkins broadcast a false claim that Paul has repented and been saved, which Ruth Watkins overhears and denounces as a lie. The chapter reflects on the power of radio as a tool of capitalist control.

  232. Chapter 232

    XI

    Bunny and Ruth listen to election returns on the radio while Paul lies in a coma, muttering phrases in Russian that reveal his revolutionary fervor. Ruth insists on deciphering his words, leading Bunny to summon Gregor Nikolaieff, who translates Paul's delirious utterances as Bolshevik slogans.

  233. Chapter 233

    XII

    Bunny Ross listens to election returns on the radio, reflecting on the drunken celebrations of the ruling class during Prohibition. He recalls past revelries at the Admiralty Hotel with his father, Vee Tracy, Annabelle Ames, Vernon Roscoe, and others, highlighting the hypocrisy of law enforcement and the connection between political victories and excess.

  234. Chapter 234

    XIII

    Paul Watkins, delirious from illness, speaks in Russian about revolutionary scenes, while Bunny Ross reflects on the contrasting world of capitalist excess and jazz-age decadence in the Emperor Hotel ballroom.

  235. Chapter 235

    XIV

    Paul Watkins, in a state of violent delirium, is restrained by Bunny, Gregor, Ruth, and Rachel as he relives past traumas. Meanwhile, a raucous radio broadcast celebrating Calvin Coolidge's election victory contrasts starkly with Paul's suffering. Ruth, distraught, believes Paul is trying to speak to her, and after he dies, she attempts to throw herself from the window but is stopped. The chapter ends with a news bulletin announcing Coolidge's landslide victory.

  236. Chapter 236

    XV

    The chapter describes the aftermath of Paul Watkins's death, including the conflict over his funeral between the Communists and his family, Eli's insistence on a Third Revelation burial, and the tragic suicide of Ruth Watkins, who drowns herself in the discovery well. The narrative reflects on the destructive power of oil and capitalism.