Robert Seguin

As I am late to post, I really couldnt find anything that wasn't sam or Jo's reviews but instead everywhere i looked i got the sort of "synopsis/review" from the publisher-

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Around-Quitting-Time/Robert-Seguin/e/9780822326755

I thought Seguins first chapter was as the others have previously said much about the idea of class in America or more so the lack of classlessness. He is comparing the idea of middle class in America in which is hard to define as it has become a mutual understanding for Americans, from low paid workers to the higher end, the majority feel middle class. So in some ways this works out well and does suggest a somewhat classless society. But what is happening in fact is that America considers itself classless and almost utopian as it does not follow the class system as Europe does.
It tries to deny class in its society by cutting off from the aristocratic European ways but in fact builds a class system through captialism. He talks about how middle classness is rooted in the mainstream of everyday life- capitalism and also has strong feelings about the link between capital and time. i.e. how capital does not exist withough human's time and labour. He calls America's class struggles "violent" and this is due to its sheer capitalised society.
One point which was unclear to me was the reference to the frontier and pastorialism as i couldnt figure out if he was being literal, meaning the sort of city vs the rural, or more like cooperation vs the small business but i guess both views are quite similar metaphorically.
In regards to Sister Carrie he is very interested in detailed descriptions of the cities visual elements, just like the book is and the idea of how the city becomes a different place at night, more alive and somewhat enchanted. This links to Seguins reference to labour and time, as he is saying that the night time is to be admired as it is when the worker can explore the night and the city. This is the Utopian element.