Subject
Chicago (Ill.) -- Fiction Books
Best books
Upton Sinclair
The Jungle
"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair is a novel published in 1906. It follows Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus and his family as they pursue the American Dream in Chicago's meatpacking district. What begins as hopeful optimism quickly descends into a brutal struggle against exploitation, corruption, and poverty. Working in dangerous conditions for meager wages, the family faces mounting tragedies and moral tests. Sinclair's exposé of unsanitary practices in the meat industry sparked public outrage and led to landmark food safety legislation.
Theodore Dreiser
Sister Carrie: A Novel
"Sister Carrie: A Novel" by Theodore Dreiser is a novel published in 1900. It follows eighteen-year-old Caroline Meeber, who leaves small-town Wisconsin for Chicago seeking a better life. In the big city, she becomes involved with two men—a charming salesman and a married bar manager—while discovering her talent for acting. As Carrie rises toward fame and fortune, those around her face vastly different fates. The novel explores ambition, desire, and the pursuit of the American Dream in urban America.
Willa Cather
The Song of the Lark
"The Song of the Lark" by Willa Cather is a novel written in 1915. It follows Thea Kronborg, a talented girl from a small Colorado town who dreams of becoming a musician. When a teacher discovers her remarkable singing voice, she leaves home to pursue vocal training in Chicago and beyond. The novel traces her artistic development and personal sacrifices as she climbs toward success, shedding relationships that no longer serve her ambition in the burgeoning American West.
Theodore Dreiser
The Titan
"The Titan" by Theodore Dreiser is a novel published in 1914. This sequel follows ruthless businessman Frank Cowperwood as he relocates to Chicago after prison, determined to dominate the city's street-railway system. Through financial manipulation and political alliances, he crushes opponents and rebuilds his fortune. Yet success proves hollow as society rejects him, his marriage crumbles amid infidelities, and his ultimate business ambitions remain frustratingly out of reach. A portrait of American ambition, power, and the price of both.
Edna Ferber
The girls
"The Girls" by Edna Ferber is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the lives of three women in the Thrift family—great-aunt Charlotte, her niece Lottie, and Lottie's grand-niece, Charley. The narrative establishes their individual personalities and familial relationships, highlighting themes related to gender roles, individuality, and societal expectations of women during that era. The beginning of "The Girls" introduces the three protagonists in a thoughtful and engaging way. We meet the elderly Charlotte, who embodies traditional values, and her vibrant, younger relative Lottie, who struggles with societal norms and yearns for a more adventurous life. Also present is Charley, a progressive teenager who challenges conventions with her modern worldview. The opening chapters delve into their daily lives, personal struggles, and the contrast between generations, setting the stage for a story about identity, rebellion, and the quest for fulfillment within the constraints of early 20th-century society.
Floyd Dell
The Briary Bush: A Novel
"The Briary Bush: A Novel" by Floyd Dell is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows the character Felix Fay, a young man in search of authenticity and purpose as he grapples with his past and aspires to reshape his identity in the bustling city of Chicago. The themes explore the struggle between dreams versus reality and the transformative nature of urban life. At the start of the novel, Felix sits at his desk in the Port Royal Daily Record, reminiscing about his love for the city of Chicago while reflecting on his past experiences, including a heart-wrenching love that has left him yearning for change. He contemplates his desire to escape his life in Port Royal and embrace a more realistic, action-oriented persona. As he inadvertently pushes towards a decision to leave his job and pursue his aspirations in Chicago, his conflicting feelings regarding love and failure come to the forefront, ultimately leading him to assert that he must change his character to succeed in the world that awaits him. The narrative sets the stage for Felix's journey, portraying a young man who longs to reconcile his dreams with the demands of real life.
George Horace Lorimer
Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son Being the Letters written by John Graham, Head of the House of Graham & Company, Pork-Packers in Chicago, familiarly known on 'Change as "Old Gorgon Graham," to his Son, Pierrepont, facetiously known to his intimates as "Piggy."
"Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son" by George Horace Lorimer is a collection of letters written in the early 20th century. The correspondence is between John Graham, a successful merchant in the meatpacking industry, and his son, Pierrepont, who is attending Harvard University. Through these letters, Graham imparts wisdom on education, work ethic, and character development, reflecting on his own experiences as a self-made man. The letters provide both practical advice and personal anecdotes, illustrating the father-son dynamic and the transition between youth and adult responsibilities. At the start of the narrative, we see John Graham’s heartfelt yet humorous approach to educating his son. He encourages Pierrepont to embrace the opportunities for learning at Harvard while emphasizing that character is more important than mere academic success. Graham discusses various life lessons, touching on subjects like the importance of financial prudence, the realities of work, and the need for common sense in business. He stresses that an education should not just be about acquiring knowledge but also about learning how to apply that knowledge effectively in the real world. Throughout this initial portion, readers get a clear sense of Graham’s personality—pragmatic, candid, and ultimately invested in his son’s development into a capable adult.
Frank Norris
The pit : $b a story of Chicago
"The Pit: A Story of Chicago" by Frank Norris is a novel published in 1903. Set in the frenetic wheat trading pits of the Chicago Board of Trade, it follows Laura Dearborn's marriage to Curtis Jadwin, a successful businessman. As Jadwin becomes obsessed with wheat speculation, his attention shifts from his wife to the intoxicating thrill of the market. Left increasingly alone, Laura faces her own temptations while her husband risks everything in pursuit of wealth and power. This second installment of Norris's unfinished Epic of the Wheat trilogy explores marriage, ambition, and the consuming nature of greed.
Theodore Dreiser
Sister Carrie
"Sister Carrie" by Theodore Dreiser is a novel published in 1900 about a young woman who leaves rural Wisconsin for Chicago in pursuit of the American Dream. Eighteen-year-old Caroline Meeber becomes entangled with two men—a charming salesman and a married bar manager—as she navigates the harsh realities of urban life. Through chance and ambition, she discovers her talent for acting and begins her ascent to stardom, while those around her face dramatically different fates in the unforgiving big city.
Sherwood Anderson
Marching Men
"Marching Men" by Sherwood Anderson is a novel published in 1917. Norman "Beaut" McGregor grows up disgusted by the powerlessness of coal miners in his hometown. After fleeing to Chicago, he discovers a radical vision: organizing workers through synchronized marching. As he pursues his dream of imposing order on chaos, McGregor navigates romantic entanglements and legal battles while developing his militant philosophy. The novel explores labor organization, the eradication of disorder, and the role of exceptional individuals in society.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Efficiency Expert
"The Efficiency Expert" by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a novella written in 1919 and published in 1921. Jimmy Torrance, a celebrated college athlete, rejects his father's business offer to prove himself independently in Chicago. Struggling through numerous failed jobs, he befriends a pickpocket and eventually becomes an efficiency expert at a factory. There he uncovers embezzlement, meets a young woman named Elizabeth, and becomes entangled in a web of crime that leads to murder and false accusations.
Edna Ferber
So Big
"So Big" by Edna Ferber is a novel published in 1924. The story follows Selina Peake De Jong, a schoolteacher who marries a Dutch farmer and faces hardship when widowed. She struggles to work the farm and provide for her son Dirk, whom she nicknames "So Big." As Dirk grows up, he pursues wealth over artistic passion, disappointing his mother who has always valued beauty and creativity despite her difficult circumstances. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1925.
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