The Financier [Hardcover]

Theodore Dreiser (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 491 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (August 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1409206904
• ISBN-13: 978-1409206903
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Nasty Business, February 3, 2011

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tertius3 (MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Financier (Hardcover)

I read Dreiser's The Financier because of my interest in the history of Chicago, where the model for Drreiser's rapacious entrepreneur/tycoon C was Charles Yerkes , who built its traction (street car) monopoly (before the Progressives instituted municipal ownership, the CTA). I like historical novels, too, and this was written close to the events described and might thus be expected to get the context exactly right (as opposed to the modern "historical novel" genre where authors have research the everyday details about which contemporary authors would not be so self-conscious--not having to mention antique brand names to establish their credentials).

Unfortunately, Dreiser seems to be on the outside of the tycoon class (who isn't?) and C comes across as a very hollow man, too effortlessly successful from a very early age. Rather than strive for his gains, Dreiser lets C float into them, above the hurly-burly of his "creatively destructive" business consolidations. Dreiser's style simply put me off. I suppose it was shocking in the effect on its audience, with its sex-driven women and the gritty reality of competitive business and the drive to monopolize. That acknowledged, it is a dreary read, a tract, lacking in prose stylings, atmosphere, extended characterization. It is full of stock, bad-guy characters and innocent business competitors. Or did Dreiser innovate these now-stock characters? That would make the book more significant, but not improve its tiresomeness to this modern reader.