The Big Town is a tremendously satisfying conclusion to Monte Schulz's epic trilogy of 1920's America. Harry Hennesey is our everyman, struggling to survive in a big hard town. But Harry is complex and unique, for he struggles with Chicago and also with himself. Harry's passion for women threatens not only his young family but also his work and his life. What makes Harry unique is his inner awareness of his weakness. He's a good man at center, he knows what he should be doing, he knows how far from that he is, and that pain informs every choice he makes.Harry's problems are brought to crisis when he meets a young girl, a girl who will ignite both his romantic interest and his protective instincts. Wondering which side of Harry will win the day creates the driving tension, set against the backdrop of a Chicago ruled both by the Mafia and by the superrich. Harry and Pearl are caught up in the danger and chaos of both. And what none of these characters can know is that Black Friday is dead ahead. We can only wonder if Harry will choose his new love, Pearl, or his distant and waiting family. What will win, the inner self he fears, or the man he yearns to be?What Schulz has achieved with this trilogy is an exploration of the dual nature of the human soul. Are we animal or angel? In This Side of Jordan we met those who would follow their animal side. They want and they get-- at any cost. In The Last Rose of Summer we met those who serve duty and love-- who wait. And here we have the blending of both, not only in one book, but in two characters. Harry, who is a man who seems to serve his family, his business, his responsibilities, and is torn by his desires, and Pearl, who is apparently a good-time girl but is secretly carrying a tremendous burden of responsibility to the last of her family. These two damaged people meet and find their way toward becoming whole.This novel speaks to what we all seek: an answer to who we are. Are we the sum of all we do, good or bad? Can we pick and choose? Finally, can we become the people we hope to be? I think, with this book, we have reason for optimism. This isn't a sugar-coated lesson here. This is a book that shows you Chicago as it was, and human beings as they are. The writing and voice are as good as they get. A beautifully-crafted, epic and important book. I hope to see this trilogy in a single volume soon.