Synopses & Reviews
Regarded as one of Dreiser's best novels, Jennie Gerhardt is here recaptured as it was originally written, restoring it to its complete, unexpurgated form.
Synopsis
"She was horrified, stunned, like a bird in the grasp of a cat, but somehow through it all was something terrific, inviting, urging, was speaking to her. He released her from his grasp. 'We won't do any more of this here, but you belong to me'." Jennie Gerhardt was Theodore Dreiser's second novel and his first commercial success. It is regarded as one of his three best novels, along with Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy. This edition presents the text as it was originally written, restoring the novel to its complete form.
Synopsis
Focusing on Jennie Gerhardt, a poor young girl in Columbus, Ohio, Theodore Dreiser's novel depicts her inadvertently defying a host of conventions-of class, gender, family, and religion. Over a quarter of a century she is repeatedly victimized by circumstance, temperament, and most particularly the fact of her sex. Yet the triumph of the book lies in her incorrigibly loving nature. Cast out by society as well as by her family, she none the less fosters a far deeper understanding of relationships than anyone else. It is no surprise that she was her author's favourite heroine.
Synopsis
"For Dreiser, "Jennie Gerhardt" was a good career move. Now, with this Pennsylvania edition, we know that it is also a great novel."-"New York Times"