Sister Carrie

Published in 1900, Dreiser's debut book caused a grand scandal – it was called immoral, cynical, and corrupting the "American Dream." Critics wrote that "praising this novel is hardly less dangerous than shooting the president." However, subsequently, "Sister Carrie" became one of the symbols of American realism. The main character, the young naive provincial Caroline Meeber, who arrived in Chicago in search of happiness, appears not as a helpless victim and not as a cynical little predator, but as a complex, multifaceted personality. In her character, selfishness coexists with nobility and sincerity, femininity – with rationality, and the thirst for success – with the willingness to achieve it through patience and hard work.