Embedded throughout the book is the concept of the American dream, which is often espoused by immigrants who dream that their children will be able to climb the American ladder of success and escape the backbreaking labor that they must suffer as first-generation immigrants: “I tell you, son of Geremio shall never lay ... Christ in Concrete" by Pietro di Donato is considered a work of fiction, despite being heavily based on the author's real-life experiences. The novel, set in the 1920s, tells the story of an Italian immigrant family in New York City and the tragic death of the father, a construction worker, who is entombed in a building collapse. While the events are inspired by the author's own life, the narrative is crafted as a fictional story with elements of social protest and religious themes. The book explores the struggles of the working class and the immigrant experience in America.