An American Tragedy
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4.2 • 6 Ratings
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
An American Tragedy is the story of Clyde Griffiths, who spends his life in the desperate pursuit of success. On a deeper, more profound level, it is the masterful portrayal of the society whose values both shape Clyde's ambitions and seal his fate; it is an unsurpassed depiction of the harsh realities of American life and of the dark side of the American dream. Extraordinary in scope and power, vivid in its sense of wholesale human waste, unceasing in its rich compassion, An American Tragedy stands as Theodore Dreiser's supreme achievement.
First published in 1925 and based on an actual criminal case, An American Tragedy was the inspiration for the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which won six Academy Awards and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
Customer Reviews
The Dark Side of Ambition
"An American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser is a sprawling epic delving deep into the psyche of Clyde Griffiths, a young man shaped by poverty and yearning for social status. Dreiser meticulously crafts a character study, unraveling the complex layers of Clyde's desires for wealth, privilege, and recognition. As we journey through Clyde's tumultuous life, we witness the moral and mental acrobatics he employs to justify his actions in pursuit of his ambitions. In a timely narrative, Dreiser exposes the dark underbelly of human nature, showcasing the frightening capacity for self-deception in the quest for material gain. This novel is a haunting reminder of our internal conflicts in pursuing success. In the case of Clyde, we follow his thoughts and justifications through his incremental progression from innocent child of street preachers to murderer.
Voice imitations don’t work
My biggest pet peeve with audiobooks is the reader trying imitate voice of opposite sex or accents. This book has both and both are annoying at best and insulting/derogatory at worst. Just read the story as is. Some voice inflection is natural but don’t try to act out the characters & situations. Ugh. In addition I think the author “lost his way” after Clyde was arrested. He should have stopped. Add an epilogue sumnarizing the trial, its verdicts, and sentcene & summarize what happened to the key chat area especially Saundra & how she & famiy disappeared & the Clyde’s uncle & family. That said I fast forwards through last few chapter. Ugh.