"Fashion and Famine" is the first novel by the American writer Ann S. Stephens, the popular author of dime novels. The story is set in New York in the mid-1800s and comprises a wide range of themes: from the relations between children and parents to social injustice. The story contains a lot of drama, family secrets, interesting turns, and unexpected discoveries. A fascinating read for anyone loving novels by Jane Austen and Mary-Louise Alcott.