An American Tragedy

by Theodore Dreiser
List(s):"Carp 500"
"Racine Library List"
Category: "Fiction - General"
Pages:814
Year of Publication:1925
Date Read:04/16/1995
Notes:Clyde Griffiths, the son of street-corner evangelists, yearns for wealth and social position, so he runs away. He begins an affair with a working girl named Roberta, but Clyde has his eye on a debutante named Sondra. When Roberta becomes pregnant and demands that Clyde marry her, he hatches a scheme to rid himself of his lower class encumbrances forever. Not a pretty story, but hard to put down nonetheless.

COMMENTS — An American Tragedy is based on an actual murder case. Dreiser’s first novel, Sister Carrie, sold fewer than 500 copies in its first edition.
My Rating: 6

Reviews for An American Tragedy

Review - An American Tragedy

The story is pretty good once you get past the "Dick and Jane" writing style. I was usually 100 pages or so ahead of what was happening. Dreiser takes digs at religion, politics, wealth and most other aspects of American life while never justifying Clyde or offering any alternatives. Still, in places it was compelling.
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