Quicksands was published in 1884 and immediately translated into multiple languages including English. It found an eager audience on both sides of the Atlantic. The United States, having just survived the Civil War and Reconstruction, was in the middle of its "robber baron" era. The old-money elite, many of whom could trace their ancestry back to some of the original founders of the nation, were losing ground to a fashionable new group of people whose wealth, earned through banking, mining, and speculation, was creating both opportunity and social upheaval. Meanwhile, the expanding middle class was hungry for a stylized and romanticized depiction of a hereditary aristocracy.
Some of the attitudes and perspectives depicted in Streckfuss's writing were due to widespread biases and prejudices that, while offensive to a modern reader, were very common in his day. The occasional derogatory statement passed unchallenged by his contemporary readers, but would be controversial today particularly after the tragedies of World War I and World War II. The fact that Streckfuss's views as expressed in his novels were common at the time does not make them correct. In fact, his use of stereotypes occasionally weakens his work.
Who had made their fortunes through industry, finance, and politics. The American public was eager for stories of the wealthy and powerful, and Quicksands offered a glimpse into the lives of European aristocrats, who were still seen as the epitome of wealth and privilege. The novel was also popular in Great Britain, where it was seen as a fascinating look into the workings of the upper class in continental Europe.
Streckfuss's novels were not only popular for their escapism, but also for their social commentary. He often used his novels to comment on the changing social and economic landscape of his time. His characters were not just one-dimensional stock figures, but were complex and nuanced, with both admirable and flawed qualities. He also wrote about the impact of the Industrial Revolution on society, particularly the working class and the rural poor. He was an advocate for social justice and equality, and his novels were a reflection of these values.
