<p>Set against the textured backdrop of late 19th-century America, Samuel Eberly Gross's "The Merchant Prince of Cornville" intricately weaves a narrative that explores themes of ambition, morality, and the economic transformation of rural communities. Through his vivid prose and sharp characterizations, Gross transports readers into the bustling life of Cornville, where the titular merchant prince navigates the complexities of wealth, power, and...