McTeague

McTeague is a dentist in a shabby San Francisco neighborhood, a big, slow man who practices without a license and dreams of little beyond his next meal. When his friend Marcus brings his cousin Trina to have her teeth fixed, McTeague falls for her, and a chain of events begins that will drag them both into poverty, obsession, and violence. Frank Norris's 1899 novel is a landmark of American naturalism, a gripping story of ordinary people caught in forces they cannot control.

Set in the Polk Street of the 1890s, the novel follows McTeague, Trina, Marcus, and a vivid cast of neighbors and rivals. It explores greed, jealousy, and the brutalizing effects of poverty with unflinching detail. Readers who enjoy classic American fiction, stories of the urban underclass, or psychological portraits of obsession will find much to admire here.

This edition contains the complete text of McTeague, a new introduction, a character guide, a summary of the plot, a list of themes, a glossary of period terms, and discussion questions for book clubs and students.