内容简介
StoryfollowsyoungCarrie,whoisunabletomakeitinthebigcity,andwhobecomesthemistressofamarriedmaninreturnformaterialpossessions.Reissue.
作者简介
TheodreDreiserwasbornintoalargeandimpoverishedGermanAmericanfamilyinTerreHaute,Indiana,in1871.Hebeganhiswritingcareerasareporter,workingfornewspapersinChicago.Pittsburg,andSt.Louis,untilaneditorfriend,ArthurHenry,suggestedhewriteanovel.TheresultwasSisterCarrie,basedonthelifeofDreiser'sownsisterEmma,whohadrunofftoNewYorkwithamarriedman.Rejectedbyseveralpublishersas"immoral",thebookwasfinallyacceptedbyDoubledayandCompany,andpublished–overFrankDoubleday'sstrongobjections–in1900.Numerouscutsandchangeshadbeenmadeinthelengthyoriginalmanuscriptbyvarioushands,includingthoseofArthurHenry,Dreiserhimself.Later,whengiventomythologizinghiscareer,DreiserwastosuggestthatthepublishinghistoryofSisterCarriehadbeenoneofbowdlerizationandsuppressiononly;butthepublicationofhisuneditedmanuscriptbytheUniversityofPennsylvaniaPressin1981showsthatDreiserapprovedandevenwelcomedHenry'sandJug'salterations.(WhetherthebookwasultimatelyimprovedorcompromisedbytheirliberaleditingisafascinatingandasyetunresolvedissueamongDreiserscholars.)SisterCarriesoldpoorly,butwriterslikeFrankNorrisandWilliamDeanHowellssawitasabreakthroughinAmericanrealism,andDreiser'scareerasanovelistwaslaunched.TheFinancer(1912)andTheTitan(1914)beganhistrilogyabouttheriseofatycoon,butitwasAnAmericanTragedy(1925),basedonnewspaperaccountsofasensationalmurdercase,whichbroughthimfame.ThenovelwasdramatizedonBroadwayandsoldtoHollywood.Newlyinfluentialandaffluent,DreiservisitedRussiaandwasunimpressed,describinghisobservationsintheskepticalDreiserLooksatRussia(1928).Inlateryears,however,hebecameanardent(throughunorthodox)Communist,writingpoliticalTreatisessuchasAmericaIsWorthSaving(1941)Hisartisticpowersonthewane,DreisermovedtoHollywoodin1939andsupportedhimselflargelybythesaleoffilmrightsofhisearlierworks.Hediesthere,in1945,attheageofseventy-four.
