An American Tragedy

Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy (1925) is a novel based on the murder of Grace Brown in 1906. It is a weighty epic with a clear-eyed vision of the decay at the heart of industrialized society. The novel was controversial for its depiction of depravity and violence but has endured as a classic of naturalist fiction and a powerful example of social critique. The protagonist, Clyde, is a young Midwesterner who bucks against his puritan upbringing, drinking with acquaintances and frequenting prostitutes. He moves to Chicago, then Lycurgus, New York, where he meets Roberta Allen and falls in love with her. When she becomes pregnant, Clyde begins to feel his dreams of freedom fade and turns to Sondra Finchley for help.

Format: Hardback
Length: 850 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy (1925) is a novel that underwent numerous revisions over a period of years. It is a substantial and epic work that offers a clear-eyed portrayal of the decline inherent in industrialized society. The novel, based on the murder of Grace Brown in 1906, sparked controversy due to its explicit depiction of depravity and violence. However, it has endured as a classic of naturalist fiction and remains a potent example of social critique, nearly a century after its publication.

The protagonist of the story is a young Midwesterner named Clyde, who rebels against his puritan upbringing by engaging in drinking, frequenting prostitutes, and holding a series of menial jobs. As his circle of friends and lovers changes, he struggles to establish a foothold in a society driven by ambition and cunning. After a tragic automobile accident forces him to flee Kansas City, Clyde relocates to Chicago before eventually settling in Lycurgus, New York. There, he meets a young farmgirl named Roberta Allen, and their relationship leads to pregnancy.

As Clyde grapples with the responsibilities of marriage and family, he begins to feel his dreams of freedom slipping away. He longs for a way out of his predicament, and he turns to a beautiful socialite named Sondra Finchley, the daughter of a local factory owner. Clyde knows what he should do—marry Roberta, settle down, and start a family—but his reckless ways refuse to leave him in the past.

Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy is presented in this edition with a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript. It is a classic of American literature that has been reimagined for modern readers, preserving the essence of the original work while appealing to a contemporary audience.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513135441