"Great Fortunes, and How They Were Made" by James Dabney McCabe is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The work chronicles the lives of notable self-made individuals in America, illustrating their struggles and triumphs as they navigate the challenges of business and society. The book emphasizes the principles and perseverance that contributed to their success, offering valuable lessons to aspiring entrepreneurs. The opening of the book presents a preface emphasizing the unique American spirit that allows for the quick recognition and reward of genius and hard work. McCabe discusses the drive instilled in the American populace to learn from the histories of successful men, aiming to inspire those in pursuit of their fortunes. The preface also makes clear that "great fortunes" shouldn't solely refer to monetary wealth, but rather, to notable achievements in various fields, setting the stage for the biographies of individuals such as Stephen Girard, which follow in the subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)