The Desire Trilogy (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. The Financier, The Titan & The StoicBy Theodore Dreiser
Length58h 57m
About this audiobook
Theodore Dreiser's The Desire Trilogy—comprising The Financier, The Titan, and The Stoic—offers a sweeping naturalist study of American capitalism through the rise of Frank Cowperwood, a financier modeled partly on Charles T. Yerkes. Written in Dreiser's characteristically dense, documentary style, the trilogy examines speculation, urban expansion, sexual freedom, and moral ambiguity in the Gilded Age and beyond. Its power lies not in conventional plot elegance but in its relentless accumulation of social, economic, and psychological detail. Dreiser, a major figure in American literary naturalism, was deeply preoccupied with the forces—biological, social, financial—that shape human conduct. Born into poverty in Indiana and later formed by journalism, he brought to fiction a reporter's appetite for fact and a philosopher's skepticism about moral absolutes. His own experience of instability, ambition, and modern urban life informed his fascination with men and women driven by appetite and circumstance. This trilogy is recommended for readers interested in the origins of modern American finance, the ethical contradictions of success, and the literature of social power. It rewards patience with a profound portrait of desire as both creative energy and destructive obsession.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to 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
Length58 hrs 57 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 20, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1JUDE THE OBSCURE (British Classics Series) (Annotated)
106Chapter XL: A Trip to Louisville
2Introduction
107Chapter XLI: The Daughter of Mrs. Fleming
3Author Biography
108Chapter XLII: F. A. Cowperwood, Guardian
4Historical Context
109Chapter XLIII: The Planet Mars
5Synopsis (Selection)
110Chapter XLIV: A Franchise Obtained
Show all chaptersShow less
6The Financier
111Chapter XLV: Changing Horizons
7Chapter I
112Chapter XLVI: Depths and Heights
8Chapter II
113Chapter XLVII: American Match
9Chapter III
114Chapter XLVIII: Panic
10Chapter IV
115Chapter XLIX: Mount Olympus
11Chapter V
116Chapter L: A New York Mansion
12Chapter VI
117Chapter LI: The Revival of Hattie Starr
13Chapter VII
118Chapter LII: Behind the Arras
14Chapter VIII
119Chapter LIII: A Declaration of Love
15Chapter IX
120Chapter LIV: Wanted — Fifty-year Franchises
16Chapter X
121Chapter LV: Cowperwood and the Governor
17Chapter XI
122Chapter LVI: The Ordeal of Berenice
18Chapter XII
123Chapter LVII: Aileen’s Last Card
19Chapter XIII
124Chapter LVIII: A Marauder Upon the Commonwealth
20Chapter XIV
125Chapter LIX: Capital and Public Rights
21Chapter XV
126Chapter LX: The Net
22Chapter XVI
127Chapter LXI: The Cataclysm
23Chapter XVII
128Chapter LXII: The Recompense
24Chapter XVIII
129The Stoic
25Chapter XIX
130Chapter 1
26Chapter XX
131Chapter 2
27Chapter XXI
132Chapter 3
28Chapter XXII
133Chapter 4
29Chapter XXIII
134Chapter 5
30Chapter XXIV
135Chapter 6
31Chapter XXV
136Chapter 7
32Chapter XXVI
137Chapter 8
33Chapter XXVII
138Chapter 9
34Chapter XXVIII
139Chapter 10
35Chapter XXIX
140Chapter 11
36Chapter XXX
141Chapter 12
37Chapter XXXI
142Chapter 13
38Chapter XXXII
143Chapter 14
39Chapter XXXIII
144Chapter 15
40Chapter XXXIV
145Chapter 16
41Chapter XXXV
146Chapter 17
42Chapter XXXVI
147Chapter 18
43Chapter XXXVII
148Chapter 19
44Chapter XXXVIII
149Chapter 20
45Chapter XXXIX
150Chapter 21
46Chapter XL
151Chapter 22
47Chapter XLI
152Chapter 23
48Chapter XLII
153Chapter 24
49Chapter XLIII
154Chapter 25
50Chapter XLIV
155Chapter 26
51Chapter XLV
156Chapter 27
52Chapter XLVI
157Chapter 28
53Chapter XLVII
158Chapter 30
54Chapter XLVIII
159Chapter 31
55Chapter XLIX
160Chapter 32
56Chapter L
161Chapter 33
57Chapter LI
162Chapter 34
58Chapter LII
163Chapter 35
59Chapter LIII
164Chapter 36
60Chapter LIV
165Chapter 37
61Chapter LV
166Chapter 38
62Chapter LVI
167Chapter 39
63Chapter LVII
168Chapter 40
64Chapter LVIII
169Chapter 41
65Chapter LIX
170Chapter 42
66The Titan
171Chapter 43
67Chapter I: The New City
172Chapter 44
68Chapter II: A Reconnoiter
173Chapter 45
69Chapter III: A Chicago Evening
174Chapter 46
70Chapter IV: Peter Laughlin & Co.
175Chapter 47
71Chapter V: Concerning A Wife And Family
176Chapter 48
72Chapter VI: The New Queen of the Home
177Chapter 49
73Chapter VII: Chicago Gas
178Chapter 50
74Chapter VIII: Now This is Fighting
179Chapter 51
75Chapter IX: In Search of Victory
180Chapter 52
76Chapter X: A Test
181Chapter 53
77Chapter XI: The Fruits of Daring
182Chapter 54
78Chapter XII: A New Retainer
183Chapter 55
79Chapter XIII: The Die is Cast
184Chapter 56
80Chapter XIV: Undercurrents
185Chapter 57
81Chapter XV: A New Affection
186Chapter 58
82Chapter XVI: A Fateful Interlude
187Chapter 59
83Chapter XVII: An Overture to Conflict
188Chapter 60
84Chapter XVIII: The Clash
189Chapter 61
85Chapter XIX: “Hell Hath No Fury —”
190Chapter 62
86Chapter XX: “Man and Superman”
191Chapter 63
87Chapter XXI: A Matter of Tunnels
192Chapter 64
88Chapter XXII: Street-railways at Last
193Chapter 65
89Chapter XXIII: The Power of the Press
194Chapter 66
90Chapter XXIV: The Coming of Stephanie Platow
195Chapter 67
91Chapter XXV: Airs from the Orient
196Chapter 68
92Chapter XXVI: Love and War
197Chapter 69
93Chapter XXVII: A Financier Bewitched
198Chapter 70
94Chapter XXVIII: The Exposure of Stephanie
199Chapter 71
95Chapter XXIX: A Family Quarrel
200Chapter 72
96Chapter XXX: Obstacles
201Chapter 73
97Chapter XXXI: Untoward Disclosures
202Chapter 74
98Chapter XXXII: A Supper Party
203Chapter 75
99Chapter XXXIII: Mr. Lynde to the Rescue
204Chapter 76
100Chapter XXXIV: Enter Hosmer Hand
205Chapter 77
101Chapter XXXV: A Political Agreement
206Chapter 78
102Chapter XXXVI: An Election Draws Near
207Chapter 79
103Chapter XXXVII: Aileen’s Revenge
208Analysis
104Chapter XXXVIII: An Hour of Defeat
209Reflection
105Chapter XXXIX: The New Administration
210Memorable Quotes
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