Theodore Dreiser

The controversial classic novel of a young woman’s journey from poverty to stardom in capitalist America. Dissatisfied with life in rural Wisconsin, eighteen-year-old Carrie Meeber travels to Chicago. With no money or prospects, her only means of survival is a job in a squalid factory—until Charlie Drouet, a charming, well-dressed man, offers to take her to dinner. Lavishing her with gifts, fine clothes, and her own apartment, Charlie introduces Carrie to a life of wealth and sophistication far removed from the Victorian moralizing of her youth. But when Carrie begins an affair with another man—and a career as an actress—her ambitions and desires reach far beyond what Charlie, or any man, can offer. Later adapted into the Academy Award–nominated film Carrie, starring Laurence Olivier, Sister Carrie is widely considered “one of the landmark novels of the twentieth century” and a masterpiece of literary realism (The New York Times). But when it was first published in 1900, it stirred controversy for its depiction of female sexuality. In his Nobel Prize speech, Sinclair Lewis declared that “Sister Carrie . . . came to housebound and airless America like a great free Western wind, and to our stuffy domesticity gave us the first fresh air since Mark Twain and Whitman.” This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

Sister Carrie

an authoritative text, backgrounds, and sources criticism

Sarah Sammis

Sister Carrie is a deceptively good book. It starts out looking like a simple morality play about the evils of the big city but Carrie is no innocent girl from the country. Apparently Carrie's willingness to use people to better herself without any thought of the consequences caused quite a scandal in its day (1900) and the original manuscript had to be toned down before it could even be published. The 1927 edition I read most certainly was the edited version but it was still modern, crass and eye opening.

Overall, I liked the book. I wish I'd had the luxury to read it at a slower place because the book is long and complex with a large ensemble cast and an equally large number of plot twists. I though was under a number of deadline and caring for two sick children at the time so I didn't get a chance to curl up with this book.

That being said, the book's length in terms of pages and in time covered are both bordering on being too long. The book reminds me a great deal of Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann except set at the beginning of the 20th century, rather than at the mid point. Carrie, though, comes off as a stronger character than any of the women in Valley of the Dolls, in that she survives and thrives. I take issue with Dreiser saying Carrie can't find happiness no matter what she does; I don't think she was ever looking for happiness. She wants and has power.

Sister Carrie (Penguin Classics)

Melody Izard

Carrie goes off to live on her own and life is damn hard in the big city. She basically becomes a rich guy's mistress, after she's kind of a mediocre guy's mistress. Then the rich guy makes a big big mistake and his world comes tumbling down and Carrie becomes famous and the world is upside down. When you're down you are very down.

caro

Maurice FitzGerald

Young Carrie Meeber leaves home for the first time and experiences work, love, and the pleasures and responsibilities of independence in late-nineteenth-century Chicago and New York

Julie Boyer

Michael Springer

Aaron McCollough

Young Caroline Meeber leaves home for the first time and experiences work, love, and the pleasures and responsibilities of independence in late-nineteenth-century Chicago and New York. Reprint.

Sister Carrie

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