Theodore Dreiser (1871 - 1945) |
| Born in Terre Haute, Indiana,
Theodore Dreiser becamse the leader of American
naturalism. He led a national literary movement that
replaced a Victorian sense of morality with the
unflinching presentation of real-life subject matter. Aug. 27, 1871 -- Born in Terre Haute, Indiana into poverty and harsh conditions 1887 -- attended one year at the University of Indiana before becoming a newspaper reporter. Develops his philosophy that people are helpless against outside forces beyond their control. 1900 -- Sister Carrie, first novel about a young well-to-do woman whose behavior goes unpunished. Doesn't sell very well, but does better decades later. 1901 - 1910 --editor of several women's magazines but was forced to resign because of an office affair with an assistant's daughter. 1911 -- Jennie Gerhardt, second novel 1912 - 1922 -- publishes several novels, short stories, dramas, and autobiographies 1925 -- publishes his first novel in a decade, An American Tragedy, based on a celebrated murder case. This book brought Dreiser considerable critical and commercial success. 1945 -- Dies on Dec. 28. His last words were "Shakespeare, Here I Come!" "All of us are more or less pawns. We're moved about like chessmen by circumstances over which we have no control." Got comments or questions? Contact Jay Edwards [back to Naturalism] [Definitions] [Characteristics] [Amborse Bierce - An Occurrance at Owl Creek Bridge] [Stephen Crane - The Open Boat] [Jack London - To Build a Fire] |