THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ

The story follows John T. Unger, a young man from a middle-class town, who attends an exclusive preparatory school where he befriends Percy Washington.

Percy invites John to spend the summer at his family's estate in Montana, where John learns about the family's extraordinary wealth and their secret: a diamond as big as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

The Washingtons have maintained this secret through various means, including enslaving descendants of slaves who believe the Civil War never ended.

However, with the advent of airplanes, their secrecy is threatened, leading to a dramatic confrontation and the eventual destruction of their estate.

The story explores themes of wealth, greed, and the illusions of the wealthy elite.