An American Tragedy: Book One!

I bet you thought I gave up on poor Theodore Dreiser?  Not a whisper of him here since early summer, I think?  I must admit that the thought crossed my mind that I would like to read a classic--something shorter perhaps (and I even have a stack of possibilities by my bedside at the moment).  But I knew that if I picked up a new book, An American Tragedy would likely end up back on the TBR pile with barely a dent made in it.  It's not that I hadn't been enjoying it, but it is a really long book (well over 800 pages) and it has a bit of a slow start.  I think I give up too easily sometimes on books that are really worth the effort if I would just stick it out until the story really begins to move, and that has been the case with this one.  I'm glad I picked it up again as now I don't want to put it down.  I'm only about a fourth of the way in, however.  The novel is broken up into three books and as I recently finished the first book it seems like a perfect moment to give a little update on my reading to keep the momentum going.

The story is based on an actual murder that occurred in upstate New York in 1906.  A young woman was found drowned in a lake.  Her lover denied that he murdered her, claiming that she died as a result of an accident.  She was pregnant at the time.  Dreiser was at a low point in his career when he began working on this book.  He had previously published four novels to some acclaim, but then nothing for five years.  He had an interest in Sigmund Freud's ideas, which he called "a strong, revealing light thrown on some of the darkest problems that haunted and troubled me and my work."  He was drawn to the Gillette/Brown case because he felt it was representative of the social ills besetting America at the time--calling it "a particularly American crime."  Here he found inspiration for a new novel.

The first book of An American Tragedy introduces Clyde Griffiths.  He's one of several children of a missionary family who are living in Kansas City.  They don't have much money as his parents spend most of their time proselytizing on the street while the children play hymns and sing and pass out leaflets.  His father supplements his meager income by working as a door to door salesman but earns very little.  Clyde is about fifteen at the opening of the story and is unhappy with his family's lifestyle, which reflects how little they have in comparison to everyone else and the fact that nothing will ever change if they continue on this same path.  One day the family discovers that Esta, the eldest daughter has run off with a man and this gives Clyde the idea that he can also make other choices outside the family in order to better himself, which is always on his mind.

He begins working in an elegant hotel as a bell-boy where his wages are increased with tips guests pay for small extra services he renders.  It's almost a shock for him to learn that he can make so much money and buy so many nice things that he had only dreamed of owning.  Perhaps it's the lifestyle he lived so long, which made him feel deprived, or perhaps he simply has a selfish streak, but he doesn't admit to his mother just how much money he earns--keeping extra back to buy nice things for himself.  Working in such an opulent environment, seeing how other people live and particularly mingling with the other young men whose morals are looser than he is used to is eye-opening to Clyde and he receives an entirely different sort of education. 

Although he's still somewhat conservative, his desires extend toward a young woman he meets who works as a clerk in a store, and who also desires nice clothes and other little treats.  She has a string of boyfriends, but it's obvious she pays attention to most of them for what she can get from them (without actually giving anything of herself) rather than from any real attraction or good intentions.  She doesn't actually like Clyde very much, but he has cash and he's so enamored by her that it's easy to manipulate him.  At the end of book one something awful happens, which will lead Clyde to move to New York where relatives live.

And this is only in the first 160 or so pages.  I did mean to be brief in my description, but it seems important to know what sort of person Clyde is, what his environment is like, and what might make him commit an act of violence.  Dreiser published An American Tragedy in 1925.  Aside from being rapt by Dreiser's storytelling, I'm fascinated by the portrait he paints of America in the 1920s, which I am sure must be fairly accurate.  Post-WWI America is a land of good and plenty.  The 1920s roared you know.  Women were beginning to work and take on new roles in society, and this was an era of rampant consumerism (which has only gotten worse).  Everything must have been so shiny and new and who wouldn't want to buy into that American Dream--the idea that anyone can better him- or herself.  And Clyde certainly wants to.

I'll let you know how book two goes.  It's the longest part of the novel, but hopefully there won't be as long of a hiatus reading it as there was when I started book one. 

Comments

[Rebecca H.]

I have read very little Dreiser, maybe only one chapter of Sister Carrie in college from an anthology. I was reminded in a conversation with a friend recently of how little of him I've read. I would like to read more at some point, so I'm glad you are enjoying this one. It does sound quite good, and it would be interesting to learn more about the 1920s.

[Caroline]

Siince I started blogging I read even less long books than before because I don't like reading several books and it would block me for weeks...
I was planning on doing a post one of these days called "All the chunky books on my pile that I would love to read if"...

[litlove]

Just the other day I was having to move my piles (ahem) of books around and found Sister Carrie. I really will read Dreiser one day - and as ever, you are making a good job of persuading me it should be sooner rather than later!

[JoAnn]

I wondered if you were still reading this! I've been wanting to read it for ages (the setting makes it practically local). Still can't decide whether to choose An American Tragedy or Sister Carrie for my first Dreiser.

[agaczyta]

I had to read it when I was at university. I liked it, though I had only 2 or 3 days to finish the book and present the plot to the rest of my group. It was something like 15 years ago so I was glad to see your post about it. I'm waiting for more impessions to refresh my memory.

[Liz F]

I hadn't heard of Dreiser before reading your post but this book sounds fascinating - I'm quite keen on 20's set books because I can recall my mother talking about growing up then (she was born in 1917 and was almost 42 when I was born).
I will have to see if the library has any of his books as I really can't buy any more books at the moment having had a couple of buying binges recently - nothing expensive but I have definitely run out of shelf space, even with two layers of books per shelf and my non-reading other half has begun to notice the teetering piles on other surfaces!

[Stefanie]

You made it back to American Tragedy! I was guessing that you were going to eventually. I am glad the story has picked up and is turning out to hold your interest. Onward to book 2! Hope it continues well.

[Kathleen]

You have definitely piqued my interest with your description of Book I. As a student of history and someone who has studied the social history of this time period, I am quite sure I would like this one and can't imagine why I haven't picked it up before now. Maybe that 800 page count has something to do with it...

[carolinareads]

The 1920's are one of my favourite decades. This books sounds interesting, though I find its size daunting

[Danielle]

Rebecca--This is the first book by him I've read. I probably should have started with something a little shorter, but the story appealed, and it is very interesting to read about this period in history.
Caroline--I try and read one or two long books a year, but this year I've had no luck. I do read several books at once, but with a long book you really do need to stick with it and that means not having much else to write about!
Litlove--I have Sister Carrie, too--she's lurking in one of my own piles. I'll feel quite pleased with myself if/when I finish this one!
JoAnn--Since you live close it would be cool to read this as you are familiar with the area. This is really very good, but I tend to get easily distracted when I have more than one book on the go! And I was very close to setting it aside, but I am glad I didn't!
Agaczyta--Now that would be intense reading! I am such a slow reader,which means long books seem to take forever to read! I will write about the second book--perhaps when I get midway--we'll see how long it takes me to finish this part!
Liz--Your mother must really have had some interesting stories! I think you might like this. I am not overly fond of reading online--but this can be found on the Australian version of Project Gutenberg--very nicely formatted too. Hopefully you can find a library copy though. I've been very bad with book buying lately!
Stefanie--I have set far too many books aside this year, I couldn't bear to set this one aside and for no good reason other than it is long. I hope I am back on track and will whizz through the second part.
Kathleen--It certainly is a door stop of a book! It's also a fascinating look at the 20s, so you might like it.
Carolinareads--My edition is also a mass market size book so it has tiny print and big blocks of text, but once I get into a rhythm I don't seem to mind. It is a little daunting, though, I agree.