George Horace Lorimer
In Old Gorgon Graham, a young man discovers that inheriting a family empire requires much more than a recognizable last name. This early 20th-century collection of fictional letters follows John Graham, described as a highly successful Chicago pork packer, as he advises his son, Pierrepont, who is taking his first tentative steps into the business world. Blending tough paternal love, colorful anecdotes, and sharp humor, Graham’s correspondence serves as a period piece in street-smart business philosophy. He strictly cautions against the trap of nepotism, emphasizing that while a name might open doors, only relentless hard work and unyielding ethics will keep you in the room. The work was written by George Horace Lorimer, the editor-in-chief of The Saturday Evening Post. Drawing inspiration from real-life meatpacking magnate Philip D. Armour, Lorimer infused his protagonist with a sharp ear for dialogue and a focus on the concept of self-made success. Published over a century ago, it illustrates how deeply engrained concepts of capitalism and the guise of a self-made person have persisted in American society.
