I recently read Metropole by Ferenc Karinthy where a linguist finds himself in a completely foreign society where he cannot learn the language, can make no conn

I recently read Metropole by Ferenc Karinthy where a linguist finds himself in a completely foreign society where he cannot learn the language, can make no connection with anyone, and winds up on the streets when his money runs out. It isn't a perfect novel but it it foresees our society where the line between self-sufficiency and poverty grows thinner and thinner. Once someone falls off perhaps due to illness, job loss, or just bad luck it is increasingly difficult to get back up and people (including and indicting myself) just walk by. I am guessing that Levine's account is thirty or more years old. I hope that such kindness hasn't completely disappeared.