An American Tragedy

One dream of a better life. One terrible decision. A chain of consequences that cannot be undone.



Clyde Griffiths longs to escape his modest circumstances and build a life of wealth, status, and respect. But his ambitions lead him into a complicated world of desire, social pressure, opportunity, and moral uncertainty.



In An American Tragedy, Theodore Dreiser explores the powerful forces that shape human choices and the devastating consequences that can follow when ambition collides with conscience. Clyde's journey becomes increasingly complicated as he struggles between the life he has and the life he desperately wants.



With its detailed portrayal of American society, psychological depth, and examination of class, ambition, morality, and fate, the novel offers a powerful portrait of a man caught between desire and responsibility.



First published in 1925, An American Tragedy remains an important work of American literature and a compelling study of human ambition and consequence.



Enter Clyde Griffiths's world and experience a classic novel about dreams, choices, ambition, and the price of pursuing them.