Is HBO’s New Period Drama ‘The Gilded Age’ Based on Mark Twain’s Book?

Per PopSugar, the term “Gilded Age” originated from their satirical 1873 novel. In reference to the era of economic growth — which saw a boom in new industries and “new money” — the coauthors compared the time period to “gilding,” a technique that sees a thin, outer layer of gold applied atop a less precious metal. Think gold-plated jewelry; to the common eye, it appears to be genuine gold, but in reality, it’s nowhere near as valuable.