Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy was inspired by an infamous real life criminal case. First published in 1925, Dreiser chronicles the life of a young man eager to raise his status, but whose recklessness and moral weakness prove to be his undoing. Raised in poverty by devout missionaries, Clyde Griffiths longs for more. After getting a job at a grand Kansas City hotel, his dreams finally seem in reach, but his self-interest and obsession with the material lead him to commit one transgression after another, ultimately leading to murder. A specially commissioned biography of the author and a glossary of Victorian and Literary terms make this new edition essential for all classic crime fans!

A specially commissioned biography of the author and a glossary of Victorian and Literary terms make this new edition essential for all classic crime fans!