Theodore Dreiser

An American Tragedy

originally published:
New York : Boni & LIveright
1925

We offered this copy of the two-volume first edition, in original slipcase, in our Catalog 108.

awards:

  • Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone(1925)
  • Johnson Highspot of American Literature(1925)
  • Modern Library 100 Best Novels(016)
  • Time Magazine 100 Novels(1925)

reference info

bio notes:
born: 8/27/1871
died: 12/28/1945
born as: Theodore Dreiser
nationality: USA

Novelist who was the outstanding American practitioner of naturalism. He led a national literary movement that replaced a Victorian sense of propriety with the unflinching presentation of real-life subject matter. - Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature

Collecting tips:

Dreiser's first book Sister Carrie (1900) is a scarce first edition, particularly in fine condition. There was once talk of a copy known in dustjacket, but the source of the jacket was highly questionable, and if you are offered a jacketed copy of the first edition, little alarm bells should begin to sound in your fevered brain. One might exist, but we've never seen one that we trusted, nor has any bookseller that we trust. His other early books such as his second novel, Jennie Gerhardt (1911) or The Financier (1912) are very uncommon in jacket, but at least we know they had valid jackets. His two volume An American Tragedy (1925) comes in both a limited and signed issue, as well as a trade issue (which comes in dustjackets and a cardboard box). Both are desirable, but we kind of like the trade issue better because we have an addiction to dustjackets.

We also offer a comprehensive Theodore Dreiser Bibliography and Price Guide.