Point Regarding Books Jennie Gerhardt
Title | : | Jennie Gerhardt |
Author | : | Theodore Dreiser |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | First Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 448 pages |
Published | : | July 11th 2006 by Pine Street Books (first published 1911) |
Categories | : | Classics. Fiction. Literature. American. Novels. Literary Fiction |
Theodore Dreiser
Paperback | Pages: 448 pages Rating: 4.04 | 2544 Users | 133 Reviews
Interpretation Concering Books Jennie Gerhardt
Jennie Gerhardt was Theodore Dreiser's second novel and his first true commercial success. Today it is generally regarded as one of his three best novels, along with Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy. But the text of Jennie Gerhardt heretofore known to readers is quite different from the text as Dreiser originally wrote it. In the tradition of the University of Pennsylvania Dreiser Edition, James L. W. West III has recaptured the text as it was originally written, restoring it to its complete, unexpurgated form. As submitted to Harper and Brothers in 1911, Jennie Gerhardt was a powerful study of a woman tragically compromised by birth and fate. Harpers agreed to publish the book but was nervous about its subject matter and moral stance. Jennie has an illegitimate child by one man and lives out of wedlock with another - but Dreiser does not condemn her for her behavior. As a requirement for publication, Harpers insisted on cutting and revising the text. Although Dreiser fought against many of the cuts and succeeded in restoring some material, Harpers shortened the text by 16,000 words and completely revised its style and tone. These changes ultimately transformed Jennie Gerhardt from a blunt, carefully documented work of social realism to a touching love story merely set against a social background. Passages critical of organized religion and of the institution of marriage were reduced and altered. Perhaps most important, Jennie's point of view - her innate romantic mysticism - was largely edited out of the text. As a consequence, the central dialectic of the novel was skewed and the narrative thrown out of balance.Mention Books To Jennie Gerhardt
Original Title: | Jennie Gerhardt |
ISBN: | 0812219554 (ISBN13: 9780812219555) |
Edition Language: | English |
Rating Regarding Books Jennie Gerhardt
Ratings: 4.04 From 2544 Users | 133 ReviewsAppraise Regarding Books Jennie Gerhardt
One of the more powerful novels I have ever read. Dreiser's characters are extremely well drawn--and that is the strongest aspect of the novel. Jennie and Lester, the main protagonists, are especially real, sympathetic, and deep. Many of the secondary characters are equally engaging, especially Jennie's crusty German father. A magnificent meditation on the vagaries of fate and the inescapable limits upon human freedom, due to society and birth. Highly recommended.Having read Dreisers An American Tragedy and Sister Carrie from the Modern Library List, I wanted more, yet feared I might be disappointed this time around. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded and once again, Dreiser delivered masterfully. He may be one whose complete works Id like to read.A poor young woman meets a rich senator while working at a hotel in Columbus, Ohio. A relationship develops and the senator is very generous to the woman and her near destitute family. Things dont turn out so
This is my third Dreiser novel - both Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy were 5 star reads which really stuck with me. Jennie Gerhardt continued in the mold of criticizing social constructs of class, and also had that 'forbidden love' element. What it lacked was the complexity of the other novels. Also, I couldn't get a grasp of Lester's character. He was undefined, in my opinion. Still, compared to some of the bad literary choices I've made in 2019, this was a great book.Dreiser and Maugham-
One of the key elements of the naturalist movement in literature was pessimism. I would say that pessimism just about sums up this book. I can't think when I've been more depressed by a story. I wanted to reach out and slap almost every character in it. I had read both An American Tragedy and Sister Carrie and liked both of those Dreiser books. Maybe I am just worn out with Dreiser's continuing theme of naive pretty poor girls falling for rich men of the upper class who will never 'do right' by
I am not sure why so many people gave glowing reviews to this book. To me, this book is basically mediocre if not worse. The writing is poor, Dreiser style, though a tiny bit better than in "An American Tragedy", where it's just horrible. In this book, the writer proves yet again his inability to create interesting, compelling characters. He uses direct characterizations to tell us how wonderful those people are, but their words and actions don't bear it out. He tries to present the heroine as
Fantastic. I also read his Sister Carrie when I was in high school and loved that too.
Although not widely know, "Jennie Gerhardt" is an outstanding classic by one of the great American scribes, Theodore Dreiser. Like his other novels, "Sister Carrie" and "An American Tragedy", this book is an in-depth character study, with a compelling plot, that contains brilliant societal observation.From her birth in the 1860s, it seems that Jennie never has a chance for happiness. (*** Spoiler***) Raised in a poor home in Ohio by a stern, drunk father and a caring mother, the beautiful young
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