I watched a fantastic program on PBS Wednesday night called Novel Reflections on the American Dream. The program's website describes it thusly

Novel Reflections on the American Dream considers 20th-century authors and the novels that illuminate society's inequities, limitations, and heartbreaks.

Basically it looks at versions of the classic American Dream as it's depicted in great 20th century novels with considerable amounts of backstory thrown in including the novelists' own defining experiences as related to writing their great works. It should be on everyone's viewing list. Check your local PBS station for show times.