An American Tragedy Unknown - 2011

by Dreiser, Theodore

About this book

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser fictionalizes a famous murder that happened in the 1906 murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gillette. His version tells the story of Clyde Griffiths, a confused and irresponsible young man. Clyde uses his position as supervisor to take advantage of a young woman, Roberta, who has fallen in love with him. Clyde falls in love with another woman, Sondra, who could provide him an entrance to society. Robert becomes pregnant, and after failing to get her an abortion, Clyde schemes to murder her when she insists on marrying him. Clyde is arrested, tried, and ultimately executed. Time magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005 list, and it is considered a classic of American crime fiction.

From the publisher

An American Tragedy is the story of Clyde Griffiths, who spends his life in the desperate pursuit of success. On a deeper, more profound level, it is the masterful portrayal of the society whose values both shape Clyde's ambitions and seal his fate; it is an unsurpassed depiction of the harsh realities of American life and of the dark side of the American dream. Extraordinary in scope and power, vivid in its sense of wholesale human waste, unceasing in its rich compassion, An American Tragedy stands as Theodore Dreiser's supreme achievement. First published in 1925 and based on an actual criminal case, An American Tragedy was the inspiration for the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which won six Academy Awards and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.

First Edition Identification

The first edition was released by Boni & Liveright at the end of 1925 in 2 volumes with a slipcase. The general trade release was quickly followed by a a signed, limited edition of 795 copies in 1926. Signed first editions in good condition can range in price between $2000 and $4000. Common defects include wear and darkening to the slipcase and cover, a missing slipcase, missing panels, and age-tanning evident on the pages. This work is Dreiser's most recognized book, and remains prized by collectors around the world.

Details

Title An American Tragedy
Author Dreiser, Theodore
Binding unknown
Edition MP3 UNA
Language ENG
Publisher Tantor Audio
Date 2011-01
ISBN 9781452651897

About the author

Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945) was an American author and an outstanding representative of naturalism, whose novels depict real-life subjects in a harsh light. Dreiser's novels, particularly "Sister Carrie," were held to be amoral, and he battled throughout his career against censorship and popular taste.
Actor and musician Dan John Miller is an award-winning audiobook narrator, having garnered multiple Audie Award nominations and one win, twice been named a Best Voice by "AudioFile" magazine, and received several "AudioFile" Golden Earphones Awards and a Listen-Up Award from "Publishers Weekly."

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