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What is the Trilogy of Desire by Theodore Dreiser?
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Theodore Dreiser
His first published novel Sister Carrie had a limited printing because of the controversial subject matter.
The Trilogy of Desire is an epic series of novels by American author Theodore Dreiser that chronicles the life and career of a fictionalized character named Frank Algernon Cowperwood. The protagonist is based on the real-life American transportation magnate Charles T. Yerkes.
The trilogy consists of the following three volumes:
- The Financier (1912): The first novel, which follows Cowperwood’s early career in the brokerage business, his dealings with corrupt politicians, and his eventual imprisonment and recovery of his fortune.
- The Titan (1914): The second volume, which tracks Cowperwood’s business maneuvers and personal life as he moves to Chicago.
- The Stoic (1947): The final installment, which follows the protagonist to London. This volume was completed by Dreiser’s wife after his death and published posthumously.
Throughout the series, the narrative alternates between Cowperwood’s amoral business coups and his complex romantic entanglements, ultimately portraying his life as unfulfilled and his empire as destined to collapse.12