The Collected Works of Theodore Dreiser

The Collected Works of Theodore Dreiser

Enriched edition. Exploring the gritty realities of American life through Dreiser's classic naturalistic fictionBy Theodore Dreiser
Michael Caine
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Length200h 35m

About this audiobook

The Collected Works of Theodore Dreiser presents a comprehensive anthology of one of America'Äôs most significant literary figures. Renowned for his naturalistic approach and intricate character studies, this collection includes his landmark novels such as "Sister Carrie" and "An American Tragedy," alongside essays and short stories. Dreiser'Äôs prose is characterized by its vivid realism and social critique, exploring the complexities of ambition, morality, and the human condition amidst the backdrop of early 20th-century America. This anthology not only offers a glimpse into the mind of a master storyteller but also serves as a critical commentary on the socio-economic forces shaping individual destinies during his time. Theodore Dreiser, born in 1871 in Terre Haute, Indiana, drew from his tumultuous upbringing and experiences in the industrial landscape of America to craft narratives that reflect the struggles of the common person. His journalist background and exposure to the harsh realities of life imbued his writings with authenticity and depth. Dreiser's fascination with the philosophical debates of his era, particularly those surrounding determinism and free will, profoundly influenced the thematic elements found in his works. The Collected Works of Theodore Dreiser is an essential read for students of American literature and champions of naturalism. It offers a profound insight into the psyche of the 20th-century American individual while highlighting the timeless struggles of aspiration and moral conflict. This collection invites readers to engage with Dreiser's rich narratives and to reflect on the societal constructs that continue to resonate today. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions. - The Author Biography highlights personal milestones and literary influences that shape the entire body of writing. - A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation. - A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists. - A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths. - Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts. - Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.

Audiobook details

GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length200 hrs 35 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 18, 2023
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Introduction
287CHAPTER XXXIX
2Introduction
288CHAPTER XL
3Author Biography
289CHAPTER XLI
4Historical Context
290CHAPTER XLII
5Synopsis (Selection)
291CHAPTER XLIII
Show all chapters
6Novels
292CHAPTER XLIV
7Chapter I: The Magnet Attracting — A Waif Amid Forces
293BOOK III: THE REVOLT
8Chapter II: What Poverty Threatened — Of Granite and Brass
294CHAPTER I
9Chapter III: Wee Question of Fortune — Four-Fifty a Week
295CHAPTER II
10Chapter IV: The Spendings of Fancy — Facts Answer with Sneers
296CHAPTER III
11Chapter V: A Glittering Night Flower — The Use of a Name
297CHAPTER IV
12Chapter VI: The Machine and the Maiden — A Knight of to-Day
298CHAPTER V
13Chapter VII: The Lure of the Material — Beauty Speaks for Itself
299CHAPTER VI
14Chapter VIII: Intimations by Winter — An Ambassador Summoned
300CHAPTER VII
15Chapter IX: Convention’s Own Tinder-Box — The Eye that is Green
301CHAPTER VIII
16Chapter X: The Counsel of Winter — Fortune’s Ambassador Calls
302CHAPTER IX
17Chapter XI: The Persuasion of Fashion — Feeling Guards O’er its Own
303CHAPTER X
18Chapter XII: Of the Lamps of the Mansions — The Ambassador Plea
304CHAPTER XI
19Chapter XIII: His Credentials Accepted — A Babel of Tongues
305CHAPTER XII
20Chapter XIV: With Eyes and Not Seeing — One Influence Wanes
306CHAPTER XIII
21Chapter XV: The Irk of the Old Ties — The Magic of Youth
307CHAPTER XIV
22Chapter XVI: A Witless Aladdin — The Gate to the World
308CHAPTER XV
23Chapter XVII: A Glimpse Through the Gateway — Hope Lightens the Eye
309CHAPTER XVI
24Chapter XVIII: Just Over the Border — A Hail and Farewell
310CHAPTER XVII
25Chapter XIX: An Hour in Elfland — A Clamour Half Heard
311CHAPTER XVIII
26Chapter XX: The Lure of the Spirit — The Flesh in Pursuit
312CHAPTER XIX
27Chapter XXI: The Lure of the Spirit — The Flesh in Pursuit
313CHAPTER XX
28Chapter XXII: The Blaze of the Tinder — Flesh Wars with the Flesh
314CHAPTER XXI
29Chapter XXIII: A Spirit in Travail — One Rung Put Behind
315CHAPTER XXII
30Chapter XXIV: Ashes of Tinder — A Face at the Window
316CHAPTER XXIII
31Chapter XXV: Ashes of Tinder — The Loosing of Stays
317CHAPTER XXIV
32Chapter XXVI: The Ambassador Fallen — A Search for the Gate
318CHAPTER XXV
33Chapter XXVII: When Waters Engulf Us We Reach for a Star
319CHAPTER XXVI
34Chapter XXVIII: A Pilgrim, an Outlaw — The Spirit Detained
320CHAPTER XXVII
35Chapter XXIX: The Solace of Travel — The Boats of the Sea
321CHAPTER XXVIII
36Chapter XXX: The Kingdom of Greatness — The Pilgrim a Dream
322CHAPTER XXIX
37Chapter XXXI: A Pet of Good Fortune — Broadway Flaunts its Joys
323L'ENVOI
38Chapter XXXII: The Feast of Belshazzar — A Seer to Translate
324Chapter I
39Chapter XXXIII: Without the Walled City — The Slope of the Years
325Chapter II
40Chapter XXXIV: The Grind of the Millstones — A Sample of Chaff
326Chapter III
41Chapter XXXV: The Passing of Effort — The Visage of Care
327Chapter IV
42Chapter XXXVI: A Grim Retrogression — The Phantom of Chance
328Chapter V
43Chapter XXXVII: The Spirit Awakens — New Search for the Gate
329Chapter VI
44Chapter XXXVIII: In Elf Land Disporting — The Grim World Without
330Chapter VII
45Chapter XXXIX: Of Lights and of Shadows — The Parting of Worlds
331Chapter VIII
46Chapter XL: A Public Dissension — A Final Appeal
332Chapter IX
47Chapter XLI: The Strike
333Chapter X
48Chapter XLII: A Touch of Spring — The Empty Shell
334Chapter XI
49Chapter XLIII: The World Turns Flatterer — An Eye in the Dark
335Chapter XII
50Chapter XLIV: And this is Not Elf Land — What Gold Will Not Buy
336Chapter XIII
51Chapter XLV: Curious Shifts of the Poor
337Chapter XIV
52Chapter XLVI: Stirring Troubled Waters
338Chapter XV
53Chapter XLVII: The Way of the Beaten — A Harp in the Wind
339Chapter XVI
54BOOK ONE
340Chapter XVII
55Chapter 1
341Chapter XVIII
56Chapter 2
342Chapter XIX
57Chapter 3
343Chapter XX
58Chapter 4
344Chapter XXI
59Chapter 5
345Chapter XXII
60Chapter 6
346Chapter XXIII
61Chapter 7
347Chapter XXIV
62Chapter 8
348Chapter XXV
63Chapter 9
349Chapter XXVI
64Chapter 10
350Chapter XXVII
65Chapter 11
351Chapter XXVIII
66Chapter 12
352Chapter XXIX
67Chapter 13
353Chapter XXX
68Chapter 14
354Chapter XXXI
69Chapter 15
355Chapter XXXII
70Chapter 16
356Chapter XXXIII
71Chapter 17
357Chapter XXXIV
72Chapter 18
358Chapter XXXV
73Chapter 19
359Chapter XXXVI
74BOOK TWO
360Chapter XXXVII
75Chapter 1
361Chapter XXXVIII
76Chapter 2
362Chapter XXXIX
77Chapter 3
363Chapter XL
78Chapter 4
364Chapter XLI
79Chapter 5
365Chapter XLII
80Chapter 6
366Chapter XLIII
81Chapter 7
367Chapter XLIV
82Chapter 8
368Chapter XLV
83Chapter 9
369Chapter XLVI
84Chapter 10
370Chapter XLVII
85Chapter 11
371Chapter XLVIII
86Chapter 12
372Chapter XLIX
87Chapter 13
373Chapter L
88Chapter 14
374Chapter LI
89Chapter 15
375Chapter LII
90Chapter 16
376Chapter LIII
91Chapter 17
377Chapter LIV
92Chapter 18
378Chapter LV
93Chapter 19
379Chapter LVI
94Chapter 20
380Chapter LVII
95Chapter 21
381Chapter LVIII
96Chapter 22
382Chapter LIX
97Chapter 23
383Chapter I: The New City
98Chapter 24
384Chapter II: A Reconnoiter
99Chapter 25
385Chapter III: A Chicago Evening
100Chapter 26
386Chapter IV: Peter Laughlin & Co.
101Chapter 27
387Chapter V: Concerning A Wife And Family
102Chapter 28
388Chapter VI: The New Queen of the Home
103Chapter 29
389Chapter VII: Chicago Gas
104Chapter 30
390Chapter VIII: Now This is Fighting
105Chapter 31
391Chapter IX: In Search of Victory
106Chapter 32
392Chapter X: A Test
107Chapter 33
393Chapter XI: The Fruits of Daring
108Chapter 34
394Chapter XII: A New Retainer
109Chapter 35
395Chapter XIII: The Die is Cast
110Chapter 36
396Chapter XIV: Undercurrents
111Chapter 37
397Chapter XV: A New Affection
112Chapter 38
398Chapter XVI: A Fateful Interlude
113Chapter 39
399Chapter XVII: An Overture to Conflict
114Chapter 40
400Chapter XVIII: The Clash
115Chapter 41
401Chapter XIX: “Hell Hath No Fury —”
116Chapter 42
402Chapter XX: “Man and Superman”
117Chapter 43
403Chapter XXI: A Matter of Tunnels
118Chapter 44
404Chapter XXII: Street-railways at Last
119Chapter 45
405Chapter XXIII: The Power of the Press
120Chapter 46
406Chapter XXIV: The Coming of Stephanie Platow
121Chapter 47
407Chapter XXV: Airs from the Orient
122BOOK THREE
408Chapter XXVI: Love and War
123Chapter 1
409Chapter XXVII: A Financier Bewitched
124Chapter 2
410Chapter XXVIII: The Exposure of Stephanie
125Chapter 3
411Chapter XXIX: A Family Quarrel
126Chapter 4
412Chapter XXX: Obstacles
127Chapter 5
413Chapter XXXI: Untoward Disclosures
128Chapter 6
414Chapter XXXII: A Supper Party
129Chapter 7
415Chapter XXXIII: Mr. Lynde to the Rescue
130Chapter 8
416Chapter XXXIV: Enter Hosmer Hand
131Chapter 9
417Chapter XXXV: A Political Agreement
132Chapter 10
418Chapter XXXVI: An Election Draws Near
133Chapter 11
419Chapter XXXVII: Aileen’s Revenge
134Chapter 12
420Chapter XXXVIII: An Hour of Defeat
135Chapter 13
421Chapter XXXIX: The New Administration
136Chapter 14
422Chapter XL: A Trip to Louisville
137Chapter 15
423Chapter XLI: The Daughter of Mrs. Fleming
138Chapter 16
424Chapter XLII: F. A. Cowperwood, Guardian
139Chapter 17
425Chapter XLIII: The Planet Mars
140Chapter 18
426Chapter XLIV: A Franchise Obtained
141Chapter 19
427Chapter XLV: Changing Horizons
142Chapter 20
428Chapter XLVI: Depths and Heights
143Chapter 21
429Chapter XLVII: American Match
144Chapter 22
430Chapter XLVIII: Panic
145Chapter 23
431Chapter XLIX: Mount Olympus
146Chapter 24
432Chapter L: A New York Mansion
147Chapter 25
433Chapter LI: The Revival of Hattie Starr
148Chapter 26
434Chapter LII: Behind the Arras
149Chapter 27
435Chapter LIII: A Declaration of Love
150Chapter 28
436Chapter LIV: Wanted — Fifty-year Franchises
151Chapter 29
437Chapter LV: Cowperwood and the Governor
152Chapter 30
438Chapter LVI: The Ordeal of Berenice
153Chapter 31
439Chapter LVII: Aileen’s Last Card
154Chapter 32
440Chapter LVIII: A Marauder Upon the Commonwealth
155Chapter 33
441Chapter LIX: Capital and Public Rights
156Chapter 34
442Chapter LX: The Net
157Chapter I
443Chapter LXI: The Cataclysm
158Chapter II
444Chapter LXII: The Recompense
159Chapter III
445Chapter 1
160Chapter IV
446Chapter 2
161Chapter V
447Chapter 3
162Chapter VI
448Chapter 4
163Chapter VII
449Chapter 5
164Chapter VIII
450Chapter 6
165Chapter IX
451Chapter 7
166Chapter X
452Chapter 8
167Chapter XI
453Chapter 9
168Chapter XII
454Chapter 10
169Chapter XIII
455Chapter 11
170Chapter XIV
456Chapter 12
171Chapter XV
457Chapter 13
172Chapter XVI
458Chapter 14
173Chapter XVII
459Chapter 15
174Chapter XVIII
460Chapter 16
175Chapter XIX
461Chapter 17
176Chapter XX
462Chapter 18
177Chapter XXI
463Chapter 19
178Chapter XXII
464Chapter 20
179Chapter XXIII
465Chapter 21
180Chapter XXIV
466Chapter 22
181Chapter XXV
467Chapter 23
182Chapter XXVI
468Chapter 24
183Chapter XXVII
469Chapter 25
184Chapter XXVIII
470Chapter 26
185Chapter XXIX
471Chapter 27
186Chapter XXX
472Chapter 28
187Chapter XXXI
473Chapter 29
188Chapter XXXII
474Chapter 30
189Chapter XXXIII
475Chapter 31
190Chapter XXXIV
476Chapter 32
191Chapter XXXV
477Chapter 33
192Chapter XXXVI
478Chapter 34
193Chapter XXXVII
479Chapter 35
194Chapter XXXVIII
480Chapter 36
195Chapter XXXIX
481Chapter 37
196Chapter XL
482Chapter 38
197Chapter XLI
483Chapter 39
198Chapter XLII
484Chapter 40
199Chapter XLIII
485Chapter 41
200Chapter XLIV
486Chapter 42
201Chapter XLV
487Chapter 43
202Chapter XLVI
488Chapter 44
203Chapter XLVII
489Chapter 45
204Chapter XLVIII
490Chapter 46
205Chapter XLIX
491Chapter 47
206Chapter L
492Chapter 48
207Chapter LI
493Chapter 49
208Chapter LII
494Chapter 50
209Chapter LIII
495Chapter 51
210Chapter LIV
496Chapter 52
211Chapter LV
497Chapter 53
212Chapter LVI
498Chapter 54
213Chapter LVII
499Chapter 55
214Chapter LVIII
500Chapter 56
215Chapter LIX
501Chapter 57
216Chapter LX
502Chapter 58
217Chapter LXI
503Chapter 59
218Chapter LXII
504Chapter 60
219BOOK I: YOUTH
505Chapter 61
220CHAPTER I
506Chapter 62
221CHAPTER II
507Chapter 63
222CHAPTER III
508Chapter 64
223CHAPTER IV
509Chapter 65
224CHAPTER V
510Chapter 66
225CHAPTER VI
511Chapter 67
226CHAPTER VII
512Chapter 68
227CHAPTER VIII
513Chapter 69
228CHAPTER IX
514Chapter 70
229CHAPTER X
515Chapter 71
230CHAPTER XI
516Chapter 72
231CHAPTER XII
517Chapter 73
232CHAPTER XIII
518Chapter 74
233CHAPTER XIV
519Chapter 75
234CHAPTER XV
520Chapter 76
235CHAPTER XVI
521Chapter 77
236CHAPTER XVII
522Chapter 78
237CHAPTER XVIII
523Chapter 79
238CHAPTER XIX
524Short Stories
239CHAPTER XX
525Free
240CHAPTER XXI
526McEwen of the Shining Slave Makers
241CHAPTER XXII
527Nigger Jeff
242CHAPTER XXIII
528The Lost Phoebe
243CHAPTER XXIV
529The Second Choice
244CHAPTER XXV
530A Story of Stories
245CHAPTER XXVI
531Old Rogaum and His Theresa
246CHAPTER XXVII
532Will You Walk Into My Parlor?
247CHAPTER XXVIII
533The Cruise of the "Idlewild"
248BOOK II: THE STRUGGLE
534Married
249CHAPTER I
535When the Old Century Was New
250CHAPTER II
536The Mighty Burke
251CHAPTER III
537Other Works
252CHAPTER IV
538Peter
253CHAPTER V
539A Doer of the Word
254CHAPTER VI
540My Brother Paul
255CHAPTER VII
541The County Doctor
256CHAPTER VIII
542Culhane, the Solid Man
257CHAPTER IX
543A True Patriarch
258CHAPTER X
544De Maupassant, Junior
259CHAPTER XI
545The Village Feudists
260CHAPTER XII
546"Vanity, Vanity," Saith the Preacher
261CHAPTER XIII
547The Mighty Rourke
262CHAPTER XIV
548A Mayor and His People
263CHAPTER XV
549W.L.S.
264CHAPTER XVI
550Chapter I: HEY, RUB-A-DUB-DUB!
265CHAPTER XVII
551Chapter II: CHANGE
266CHAPTER XVIII
552Chapter III: SOME ASPECTS OF OUR NATIONAL CHARACTER
267CHAPTER XIX
553Chapter IV: THE DREAM
268CHAPTER XX
554Chapter V: THE AMERICAN FINANCIER
269CHAPTER XXI
555Chapter VI: THE TOIL OF THE LABORER
270CHAPTER XXII
556Chapter VII: PERSONALITY
271CHAPTER XXIII
557Chapter VIII: A COUNSEL TO PERFECTION
272CHAPTER XXIV
558Chapter IX: NEUROTIC AMERICA AND THE SEX IMPULSE
273CHAPTER XXV
559Chapter X: SECRECYITS VALUE
274CHAPTER XXVI
560Chapter XI: IDEALS, MORALS, AND THE DAILY NEWSPAPER
275CHAPTER XXVII
561Chapter XII: EQUATION INEVITABLE
276CHAPTER XXVIII
562Chapter XIII: PHANTASMAGORIA
277CHAPTER XXIX
563Chapter XIV: ASHTORETH
278CHAPTER XXX
564Chapter XV: THE REFORMER
279CHAPTER XXXI
565Chapter XVI: MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
280CHAPTER XXXII
566Chapter XVII: MORE DEMOCRACY OR LESS? AN INQUIRY
281CHAPTER XXXIII
567Chapter XVIII: THE ESSENTIAL TRAGEDY OF LIFE
282CHAPTER XXXIV
568Chapter XIX: LIFE, ART AND AMERICA
283CHAPTER XXXV
569Chapter XX: THE COURT OF PROGRESS
284CHAPTER XXXVI
570Analysis
285CHAPTER XXXVII
571Reflection
286CHAPTER XXXVIII
572Memorable Quotes

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