(FICTION BOOK REVIEW)

“People like money even more than they do looks.”
― Theodore Dreiser, An American Tragedy

The novel ‘American Tragedy’ is the pinnacle of Theodore Dreiser’s creativity. The author once again masterfully demonstrates the shadow of the ‘American dream,’ which, falling on a young face, as if with poison washes away everything human from it. This work is philosophical. It is about choice and responsibility.

Clyde Griffiths is a boy from a devout family. The family suffers from poverty from day to day. They sing church songs on the street and sometimes earn money by preaching. Clyde realizes that he wants more out of life and is ready to do anything to achieve his dream… the American dream.

Having grown up, the guy gets a prestigious job – in one of the best hotels in the city. There he meets the “golden youth.” In the company of Clyde finally feels freer, although he is ashamed to show his ignorance in matters that are commonplace for his friends. Nevertheless, he succumbs to some of the temptations of life and his thoughts and actions become more determined every day.

As it often happens in life, the “sugar white streak” suddenly gives way to the “black streak” – to the point of tears. This is what happened to Clyde. One event changed the course of his measured life. This situation, like a dot left by a restless hand, grew more and more and took the form of a line that became fatal in the end

‘American Tragedy’ is the story of a young man full of cruelty, self-confidence, selfishness, which all the time travel alongside weakness, naivety and cowardice. I do recommend reading it. My rating is 9/10.