Quizzes
Quick Facts
- Awards And Honors:
- Pulitzer Prize
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
The Magnificent Ambersons
novel by Tarkington
The Magnificent Ambersons, novel by Booth Tarkington, published in 1918. The book, about life in a Midwestern American town, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1919. It was the second volume in the authorās trilogy Growth, which included The Turmoil (1915) and The Midlander (1923, later retitled National Avenue).
The novel traces the growth of the United States through the decline of the once-powerful socially prominent Amberson family. Their fall is contrasted with the rise of new industrial tycoons and land developers, whose power comes not through family connections but through financial dealings and modern manufacturing.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.