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      An American Tragedy

      by Theodore Dreiser
      Published
      Sep 1964
      Main Genre
      General Fiction General Fiction
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      About This Book

      This landmark 1925 novel—the basis for the acclaimed 1951 film A Place in the Sun—is both a riveting crime story and a devastating commentary on the American dream.

      One of The Atlantic's Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years

      Theodore Dreiser was inspired by a true story to write this novel about an ambitious, socially insecure young man who finds himself caught between two very different women—and two very different visions of what his life could be. Clyde Griffiths was born poor and is poorly educated, but his prospects begin to improve when he is offered a job by a wealthy uncle who owns a shirt factory. Soon he achieves a managerial position, and despite being warned to stay away from the women he manages, he becomes involved with Roberta, a poor factory worker who falls in love with him. At the same time, he catches the eye of Sondra, the glamorous socialite daughter of another factory owner, and begins neglecting his lover to court her. When Roberta confronts Clyde with her pregnancy, Clyde's hopes of marrying Sondra are threatened, and he conceives a desperate plan to preserve his dream.

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      General Fiction

      Subgenres

      Literary

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      Sep 1964 Signet ISBN 0451515633
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      Sep 1964 Signet ISBN 0451502353
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      Jan 1995 Addison Wesley Publishing Company ISBN 0175570442
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      Aug 2000 Signet ISBN 0451527704
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      Dec 1978 Bentley Publishers ISBN 0837604249
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