8 best books by Theodor Dreiser

Best Book Ratings

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Theodore Dreiser is a prominent representative of the traditional school of naturalism. His creative legacy has been preserved in the form of collections of stories and novels. And in our time, the writer's works are very popular.

Those who have just begun to study the work of Theodor Dreiser should pay attention to the books that are at the top of our rating. We do not take it upon ourselves to judge the great works of an American author. The review has been compiled solely on the basis of the ratings of the readers and their thoughts.

Rating of the best books by Theodore Dreiser

Nomination a place composition rating
Rating of the best books by Theodore Dreiser 1 Genius 5.0
2 Sister Kerry 4.9
3 Financier 4.8
4 American tragedy 4.7
5 Titanium 4.6
6 Vanity 4.5
7 Hunting for men 4.4
8 Stoic 4.3

Genius

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 5.0

Genius

Genius is about an artist named Eugene Whitla. Passion, love for ladies and creativity, the desire to be successful and famous are intertwined in his life.

The novel takes its rightful place in American literature. Dreiser himself considered it the best in his collection. The volume is quite large, but the lines are easy to read. Judging by the reviews, the fascinating plot leaves many thoughts for a long time. This book is a must-read for creative people. She will give many useful thoughts and become a source for self-development.

Advantages

  • many interesting thoughts;
  • fascinating plot;
  • motivating book;
  • good storytelling style.

disadvantages

  • there are no serious disadvantages.

Sister Kerry

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.9

Sister Kerry

The second in the ranking is the book, the plot of which develops at the beginning of the 20th century. The girl moves to Chicago to live with her sister. She is faced with the incredible harshness of city life, and soon meets a nice young guy who becomes her mentor.

Readers find the work very interesting and vital. It is called the reference book for young ladies who want to succeed. It's sad to read about the heroine's difficult problems. After completing the book, there is a sad aftertaste. In any case, the novel deserves attention. By the way, his film adaptation has little to do with the plot.

Advantages

  • realistic description;
  • philosophical digressions of the writer;
  • interesting arguments of the author about work and marriage;
  • dynamic plot;
  • instructive book.

disadvantages

  • there are no serious disadvantages.

Financier

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.8

Financier

The rating continues with a novel written in 1912. This is the first book of The Trilogy of Desire. Despite the fact that the world saw it over 100 years ago, it is still relevant today. The plot develops at the end of the 19th century. It tells how unprincipled and stingy politicians are.

The protagonist of the novel has achieved success in life thanks to his work. However, the fire in Chicago is negatively affecting his business. Not without a love storyline. They praise the writer's ambiguous look at the characters and the fascinating plot. Young traders are advised to read this book. If the reader is not interested in the topic of the financial market, he may not like the book.

Advantages

  • fascinating plot;
  • easy to read;
  • textured and lively character;
  • interesting book from a financial point of view.

disadvantages

  • many financial terms.

American tragedy

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.7

American tragedy

In 1925, the book American Tragedy was published. It is written plausibly. Inevitably, the reader is transported into the events of history. It tells the story of a guy who wanted to become independent from his family. He moved to a major city to find his happiness. As a result, the hero gets to know his rich relative. After this meeting, incidents related to social life begin, and the guy is brought to trial for premeditated murder.

Each chapter is 'imbued' with intrigue, tension and mystery. According to reviews, this work is best read as an adult, not as a teenager. At 15-16 years old, many moments and problems will be incomprehensible. Some chapters are too long.

Advantages

  • a real portrayal of American reality;
  • interesting story;
  • easy to read.

disadvantages

  • a little tight.

Titanium

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.6

Titanium

The second book of the 'Trilogy of Desire' was the work 'Titan'. This is a sequel to the novel 'The Financier'. The main character spent about a year in prison and started life 'from scratch'. The reader is faced with a description of corrupt politicians, the intensity of love passions, experiences and betrayals.

The novel with a gripping plot is broken down into capacious and precise chapters. This is a great option in terms of politics and finance. Readers admire the description of the protagonist. It turns out that the writer had a living prototype. It is advised to read the trilogy from the first book, otherwise it will not be clear who Mr. Cowperwood is.

Advantages

  • curious description of the relationship;
  • lively and laconic plot;
  • a worthy sequel to the book 'Finansit'.

disadvantages

  • there are no serious disadvantages.

Vanity

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.5

Vanity

Unlike the previous participants in the rating, the book 'Vanity of vanities' includes several interesting stories. In the collection you can find the stories 'The Rural Doctor', 'The Rural Theologian', 'Vanity of Vanities', 'The Mayor and His Voters'. These stories trace the current theme of the superiority of good over evil. An intricate plot, dynamic events, a range of positive impressions from what you read await the reader.

The work is filled with vivid portraits, urgent problems, It will be interesting not only for fans of the genre. The success lies in the notes of satire and masterful translation. However, reviews of the book are mixed. Some found the stories boring.

Advantages

  • vivid description of heroes;
  • fascinating plot;
  • actual problems are considered.

disadvantages

  • mixed reviews.

Hunting for men

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.4

Hunting for men

The acquaintance of the Russian reader with the works of the American author happened precisely from the book 'The Hunt for Men'. It was published in 1925. Fans of the writer's work were left with great impressions of the stories. The stories are captivating from the first lines, they are striking in their depth.

Unlike many of Theodor Dreiser's works, this book is kind and heartfelt. There are no exotic stories in the stories. Fans of the author will like the detective more.

Advantages

  • the first book of the author in Russia;
  • interesting story;
  • soulful stories.

disadvantages

  • there are no serious disadvantages.

Stoic

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Rating: 4.3

Stoic

The Stoic is the last book in The Trilogy of Desire. In the story, the same hero is looking for ways to invest his investments after failures in Chicago and continues to 'walk' from his wife.

Most readers are used to the final piece being the most important piece. This is not in the book Stoic. The last chapters are a little frustrating. They describe the events in the life of the hero's mistress after his death. The work is a must-read for those who have already got acquainted with the two books of the trilogy.

Advantages

  • interesting storyline;
  • unexpected love polygons;
  • bright characters;
  • disclosure of the characters of the heroes.

disadvantages

  • extra chapters that do not carry a semantic load.

Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

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