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An American Tragedy

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An American Tragedy

By: Theodore Dreiser
Narrated by: Dan John Miller
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About this listen

An American Tragedy is the story of Clyde Griffiths, who spends his life in the desperate pursuit of success. On a deeper, more profound level, it is the masterful portrayal of the society whose values both shape Clyde's ambitions and seal his fate; it is an unsurpassed depiction of the harsh realities of American life and of the dark side of the American dream. Extraordinary in scope and power, vivid in its sense of wholesale human waste, unceasing in its rich compassion, An American Tragedy stands as Theodore Dreiser's supreme achievement.

First published in 1925 and based on an actual criminal case, An American Tragedy was the inspiration for the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which won six Academy Awards and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.

©1925 Theodore Dreiser (P)2011 Tantor Classics Inspiring

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The characters were made very real to me by both the narrator and author. I was with this young man throughout his story. it will stay with me for some time.

Wonderful story

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The narration is incredible, he really is skilled when it comes to switching voices subtly and swiftly. Certain female voices (e.g. Roberta's) are rather annoying though, in my humble opinion.

The author's phrasing is very interesting. Paying close attention to every word is a joy.

Marathon Masterpiece

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A book which lays bare the American Dream. The burning desire of a young man for riches, beauty, status and love must surely end badly. His pursuit of the Dream is haphazard but he is dealt a unique opportunity by distant family connections. Weak and indecisive, but possessed of an uncontrollable drive to escape poverty and humiliation, Clyde Griffiths follows the family connection to reveal a world of money, culture and power. Intrigue is bedfellow to this society and Clyde is doomed by a fatal attraction to the beautiful and effervescent Sondra Finchley. Though his pursuit of the high society socialite is surely fruitless, the fatal entanglement is sewn by his philandering with Roberta Alden, a poor, pretty and pious girl whose innocence is taken by the feckless Clyde. Roberta is pregnant just when Clyde seems to have captured the heart of Sondra. Clyde must escape Roberta's demand for marriage, but, as Dreiser asks often, 'how to do?'

Clyde is driven to consider murder. As with all his affairs, Clyde's planning and execution is shambolic. Roberta is drowned, even Clyde is unsure whether he actually killed her. Clyde will stand trial, the death penalty awaits. It is no concern of his lawyers whether Clyde is guilty or not. Belknap wants only a judgeship and will do whatever it takes to get it. Likewise, the prosecuting lawyer, Mason. Whether Clyde escapes the Chair or not, the cynicism of American society, where money talks but rarely honestly, is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the book. Dreiser's style can be dry bordering on the turgid but beneath the heavy prose is a story which needed to be told.

The Title Says it All

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Over 30 hours of a great novel, narrated so well I became addicted to the vibrant characters. Highly recommend.

Brilliant narration

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I listen to lots of audio books and would put this at the very top! Wonderfully narrated.

In terms of content, I was astonished to learn that it was written in the 1920s given the manner in which the author handles the plot and the inner thoughts and feelings of the principal characters. The court scenes are exceptionally detailed and make for difficult listening.

Feel ashamed I hadn’t heard of the author prior to picking up this title. As others have said, it is a classic of American literature and deserves all the plaudits it has gained over the last century! I note it was even made into an opera.

Literature at its very best; and wonderfully narrated

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