Theodore Dreiser

By Richard Lingeman,

Book cover of Theodore Dreiser: An American Journey

Book description

Now an abridged edition of two highly acclaimed volumes Praise for Theodore Dreiser: At the Gates of the City, 1871–1907 "Dreiser’s life has never been more vividly told. Lingeman’s definitive book reveals the tough, uncompromising impulse that led Dreiser, disdaining style, to slug with such knockout power." —Studs Terkel "Scrupulously,…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Theodore Dreiser as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I decided to read this biography of Theodore Dreiser because American Tragedy is one of the finest novels ever written. 

Lingeman presents Dreiser’s tumultuous and often sad life warts and all.  From his painful family life in Indiana, through his struggles to become a successful writer, through marriage and numerous dalliances, to his flirtation with communism, Dreiser’s deeply flawed character and numerous conflicts in the literary world make for fascinating if often disturbing reading. 

Everything from his battles against literary censorship to his on-again off-again friendship with H. L. Mencken fill the biography with drama and poignancy. Readers will watch…

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