Финансист

Trilogy of Desire #1

by Theodore Dreiser

«Фінансист» (1912) — перший роман циклу «Трилогія бажання» видатного американського письменника Теодора Драйзера (1871— 1945), в основу якого покладено історію життя американського мільйонера Чарлза Йєркса.

Головний герой роману Френк Ковпервуд починає займатися комерцією ще в школі, а ставши дорослим, переходить до біржових спекуляцій. І хоча його судять за порушення закону, і він попадає до в’язниці, герой анітрохи не почувається винним. Вийшовши з тюрми, він використовує свій шанс заробити дуже багато грошей під час банківської кризи. Тепер він почуває себе справжнім переможцем.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, American, Historical Fiction, Novels, Business, Literature

558 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1912

About the author

Naturalistic novels of American writer and editor Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser portray life as a struggle against ungovernable forces. Value of his portrayed characters lies in their persistence against all obstacles, not their moral code, and literary situations more closely resemble studies of nature than tales of choice and agency; this American novelist and journalist so pioneered the naturalist school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore...

Reviews

[Glenn Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photo of Theodore Dreiser around the time he wrote The Financier

“In short, he was one of those early, daring manipulators who later were to seize upon other and even larger phases of American natural development for their own aggrandizement.” Thus speaketh Dreiser on his main character.


If there was ever a novel spotlighting American character, this is it. Theodore Dreiser goes right to the heart of the heart of American business and industry with this novel featuring Frank Cowperwood, a man who is a financial genius and leader by instinct and by nature. In this first of the Cowperwood trilogy, the author sets his tale in 19th century horse-and-buggy Philadelphia. Reading this novel is one memorable experience: it is as if you are right there in Philadelphia with Cowperwood and all the other men and women, walking the streets, sitting in on business meetings, living the cycle of work-a-day everyday life.

What does it take to grow up to be a captain of industry, to amass fortune and wealth beyond measure, to be a titan among men? Here is how Dreiser describes his main character, “Frank Cowperwood, even at ten, was a natural-born leader. . . . he was looked upon as one whose common sense could unquestionably be trusted in all cases. He was a sturdy youth, courageous and defiant. . . From the very start of life, he wanted to know about economics and politics. He cared nothing for books.” I mention ‘cared nothing for books’ since anybody reading this review presumably is, like myself, a reader of books. Well, that’s what separates bookworms like us from Mr. Frank – we enjoy curling up with a good book far from the maddening crowd; Frank enjoys being at the center of the maddening crowd, giving exacting orders a mile a minute and making money, lots of money.

Dreiser writes how as a boy Frank wondered how life was organized and found his answer watching the drama in a merchant’s fish tank, a drama taking place over the course of several days, that of a lobster hunting and finally killing and eating a squid. This incident made a profound impression on young Frank. He finally understood how life works: life feeds on life, one animal feeds on another animal, men feed on other men. The animals and men who are the best equipped and the strongest will win. This raw-boned naturalism and what would come to be known as Social Darwinism would remain Frank Cowperwood’s unswerving view of life.

Although Cowperwood is a financial wizard, a man who masters the world of money and the game of influencing people the way those top Castilians in Hermann Hesse’s ‘The Glass Bead Game’ master their game of mathematical-musical metaphysics, his life expands in other ways, particularly in his appreciation of visual beauty, the beauty of women and the beauty of art. Here are the author’s words on Cowperwood’s collecting art objects in his new home: “He foresaw a home which would be chaste, soothing, and delightful to look upon. If he hung pictures, gilt frames were to be the setting large and deep: and if he wished a picture-gallery, the library could be converted into that, and the general living-room, which lay between the library and the parlor on the second-floor, could be turned into a combination library and living-room.”

Back on Cowperwood’s appreciation of the beauty of women. Without going into the particulars of the women involved, it is worth highlighting how his relationship with women brings him into conflict with others, usually older men and women, who hold to traditional moral and religious values. Indeed, this contrast between the America of religious believers and the America of the naturalistic, materialistic non-believers like Cowperwood is part of Dreiser’s overarching social commentary. When men confront Cowperwood with religion and morals, he simply replies that they have one view of life and he has quite another.

For 500 pages we follow Cowperwood through his ups of amassing millions and downs of losing millions and then up again. Toward the end of the novel, he muses, “I am as rich as I was, and only a little older. They caught me once but thy will not catch me again.” He realizes his life destiny, his life meaning, is one of grandeur, one of tremendous wealth and influence and that his future lies well beyond the city limits of Philadelphia, in a city to the west, a city providing ample financial elbow room and entrepreneurial leg room to accord with his ambition and his magnificence. The 19th century thinker Friedrich Nietzsche said, “We should face our destiny with courage.” Frank Cowperwood was no reader of philosophy, but he would have wholeheartedly agreed with the German philosopher on this point.

[BlackOxford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing New Under the American Sun

There is scarcely any internal dialogue in The Financier. All is surface, not to say superficial. Frank, the protagonist, is driven entirely by the opinion of others and is yet entirely self-centred in defiance of all Jungian psychological types. He cannot be analysed, only observed and documented by Dreiser's hyper-realism.

Morality exists for Frank as an abstract category but not as a demand for doing the right thing. The right thing is the commercially and, especially, financially most expedient thing. No other criterion is allowed to intrude. Slavery is evil, war is destructive, democratic government is a sham, but evil, destruction and duplicity are actually necessary for progress of the world and in it.

Written with the driest and subtlest of irony, The Financier describes but it doesn't condemn. Frank calculates, he does not live, love, or care other than for awaiting the chance to calculate. His existence takes place among others who also calculate, especially politicians, whom Dreiser recognises as the source and guarantors of commercial and financial success. These are the insiders without whose tips and legislative legerdemain, Frank's abilities are useless. Corruption is not incidental to the system; it is the system.

The Financier is a real 'how to' become a Wall St mogul, as relevant now as it was a century ago. The only real difference today is that the aspiring captain of finance has fewer choices for realising his ambitions. Frank is able to worm his way into the big deal on financing the American Civil War under the noses of the then dominant Drexel & Co. of Philadelphia. Today's Goldman Sachs would crush any such impertinence. Frank would therefore have to ply his nefarious trade within its ranks to get ahead.

Loyalty, of course, is defined as expediency in Frank's world, as it is in today's financial culture. All relationships are expendable. Even the 'word is my bond' culture is in force only as long as it is expedient for the participants. When disaster threatens, if an agreement is not in black and white, and properly witnessed, it doesn't exist. Frank is the model for the likes of Donald Trump and Anthony Scaramucci. Except Frank is more civil and articulate.

[⚔Irunía⚔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avaricious, greedy for power, unscrupulous manipulator, financial genius, amassing millions? 😈

The hero fascinated and repelled me at the same time.

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept being fascinated by this trilogy throughout a large chunk of my childhood. Gosh! It was so engrossing! Like a window to the big world of the yet unknown things. I kept reading and rereading it multiple times.

Not sure I'll like it as much these days if I do dare to reread.

The last part was, however, very different from the beginning, in terms of psychology. Considering it was published poshumously, one can't help if the plot was highjacked by some shadow writer to get it ready for publishing. Then again, it could have been the idea of the writer that the things that have started trailblazingly could end without the trailblazer. Maybe it was supposed to have a sobering effect on the readers. Sadly, it did not sober me concerning the rat race.

[TarasProkopyuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Смело отнесу роман «Финансист» Теодора Драйзера к одной из лучших книг мирового произведения. Мастерство автора просто превосходно.

Стиль написания Драйзера прекрасен, а сюжет взят из реальной жизни. Прототипом главного героя стал некий американский финансист и миллионер Чарльз Тайсон Йеркс.

По поводу героя можно смело сказать что он весьма неоднозначен. Очень много его качеств невольно заставляют восхищаться им, но в то же время моральная его сторона очень уж близко шагает вдоль этических границ и готова в любой момент перешагнуть их ради той или иной цели. Амбиции героя превосходны, но способы их удовлетворения носят не только низкую этическую составляющую, но и готовы не колеблясь нарушить закон.
Осталось впечатление, как будто автор пытался показать читателям истинное мастерство героя в его деятельности, а также предостеречь от всех его пороков и не лучших поступков.

После этого романа с нетерпением хочется продолжить чтение данной трилогии, а именно книг «Титан» и «Стоик» о продолжении судьбы и деяний главного героя.

[Kiekiat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Dreiser the Magnificent: Prose like a glacier of truth, massive, powerful and beautiful; shall not slide easily, oilily, oozily down the tender gullets of twiddling aesthetes, no; but rather, hammers on the door of the mind like Beethoven knocking, thunders, silences with glory, soaked in awe.”

Edward Abbey

[E. G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduction, by Larzer Ziff
Suggestions for Further Reading
A Note on the Text

--The Financier

[Rick Slane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find his writing style awkward especially when he deals with complicated financial dealings and legal matters.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of a trilogy about the life of financier Frank Cowperwood, loosely based on the life of a Chicago streetcar tycoon. This first part of his story is set in post-civil-war Philadelphia. Frank rises quickly from middle-class beginnings to the financial heights due to his cleverness and disregard for legalities and regulations. Due to a miscalculation and a market plunge after the Chicago Fire, he is exposed (both financially and legally) and this book describes his trial, conviction, and re-entry into the world of high finance. (and his foray into adultery, where he betrays not only his wife but a business associate.)

It was interesting to me to note how often the descriptions of financial shenanigans sounded sadly current. It seems that Frank Cowperwood would feel pretty comfortable hanging out with today's bankers. I found the detailed descriptions of the financial ins-and-outs, and the ease Frank has in gaming the system, really fascinating and historically relevant.

[Poncho González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro al que le sobran muchas páginas debido a las largas y pesadas descripciones del entorno así como largos fragmentos dedicados al mundo financiero y económico en la bolsa de valores (que es entendible que iba a venir debido al nombre de la obra) pero considero que fue exagerado su uso, además de tener un estilo un poco confuso ya que la primera mitad del libro todo ocurre tan rápido y cuando llegamos al problema principal todo lo que resta del libro se centra en eso, sin mencionar el final tan plano y sencillo al igual que sus personajes ya que realmente uno nunca llega a encariñarse con ellos, pero a pesar de todos estos imperfectos fue un libro que termine y en partes disfrute, sin duda lo mejor de la obra era cuando el autor se dedicaba a crear diálogos y confrontaciones entre varias personas, la trama es muy buena (larga pero interesante) y hay que entender que esta es una de las novelas históricas precursoras donde se habla del famoso sueño americano donde todo es posible, igualmente es muy rescatable el ambiente que se crea en ella (finales del siglo XIX) y lo muy bien documentado que estuvo el autor sobre temas políticos y económicos de la época.

[Ankhaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Зохиолын гол баатар Фрэнк Каупервуд хүүхэд байхаасаа л улс төр, эдийн засагт татагдаж, 15 настайдаа Америкийн санхүүгийн тогтолцооны тухай бүрэн ойлголттой болж хувьцаа гэж юу болох, түүний ханш яагаад байнга хэлбэлздэг талаар хэдийн мэддэг болжээ. Түүний аав нь банкны салбарт ажиллаж, албан тушаал ахиж, чухал хүн болж байгаа нь хүүдээ нөлөөлж, түүний сонирхолыг улам татаж байсан. Зохиолыг унших явцад түр пауз авч, өгөгдсөн тооцоог давхар бодож байлаа. Ингээд ид гялалзсан 20-иод насан дээрээ ажил үйлс нь бүтэмжтэй байж, ашиг орлого авинтай болж нэг л мэдэхэд тансаг орд харш бариулж, дээдсийн хэмжээний үдэшлэг зохион байгуулж байсан залуу маань Чикагогийн түймрээс улбаалаад хөрөнгийн бирж дээр гарсан дайнаас болж хөл алдан, дампууралд хүрч, улмаар шүүх хурлаар залилан, хулгай хийсэн хэргээр яллагдаж, шоронд жил гарангийн хугацаа өнгөрүүлсэн. Түүний авах чанар нь сэтгэлээр унаад байхгүй, ямагт тооцоолон бодож, уулзсан банк санхүү болон улс төрийн хүмүүстэй өөрийн дотоод чанар, бодсон төлөвлөгөөгөө уншуулаад байхгүй, өөрөө түрүүлж хүний цаад санаа бодлыг олж мэдэх, бүх л хүнд нөхцөлд тайван амгалан байдалтай байж, бусдад ч амгалан харагдаж байгаа боловч тархиндаа гялс манас цахилсан гүйлгээ ухаантай, харцаараа тархиараа хүнийг яг таг байдалд оруулдаг тийм л залуугийн дүр байлаа. Шоронд байхдаа ч түүний итгэл тасарсангүй өөрийгөө саятан болсон хүнээр төсөөлж, мөрөөдөж байсан нь хүн итгэл үнэмшилдээ үнэнч байх хэрэгтэйг харуулж байлаа. Шоронгоос гараад хөрөнгийн биржийг судлаж, алтны урсгал хаашаа байна, тэр газар амьдрал үргэлж буцалж, цэцэглэж байдаг гэдэгтэй бодол нэгт залуу маань өөрт таатай мөчийг хүлээн, судалгаа ажиглалт хийж байтал, өөрийн хүсэн хүлээсэн мөч нь ирж бусад банк санхүүгийн байгууллагууд дампуурлаа зарлахад, тухайн үед самбайчилж өөрт байсан хувьцаагаа боломжоороо зарж, илүү хямдхан зүйлүүдийг худалдаж авч санхүүгийн эргэлт хийснээр Фрэнк Каупервуд өөрийн зорилгодоо хүрэх алхам нь эхэлсэн. Хувийн амьдрал, хайр сэтгэлийн тал дээр өөрөөсөө эгчмэд Лилиан гэх бүсгүйгээ 2 хүүхэдтэй болгочихоод салах хүсэлтэй байгаагаа хэлж, өөрөөс дүү цовоо зантай Элиэн гэх залуухан бүсгүйтэй нийлж Филадельфийг орхин, шинэ хувийн амьдрал, шинэ санхүүгээ босгохоор алтны урсгал төвлөрсөн Чикаго руу явсанаар зохиол төгслөө. Санхүү, бизнесийн амьдрал гэж дунд нь юу ч тохиолдож байсан хугаршгүй, нугаршгүй л байх ёстой юм шиг. Манай бизнесчид ч гэсэн хэд хэд шатаж байж, одоогийн энэ амьдралдаа хүрсэн гэж хэлдэгтэй л утга нэг бөлгөө...Асар их сэтгэлийн тэнхээтэй л байх юм шиг ээ.

[Lisa of Troy]

This is a book that F. Scott Fitzgerald recommended in his College of One, a set of 40 books he considered necessary for an education: https://www.listchallenges.com/f-scot...

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is available for free download from a variety of sources. Many different electronic formats are possible through The Gutenberg Project and ManyBooks. A free audio book can be downloaded from archive.org. Penn State University has the book for free download as a PDF file. There is the inevitable Google Books, and many others.

I did my bit to accelerate the collapse of brick-and-mortar bookselling by downloading this as a free ebook after seeing and perusing a paper copy at the last old-school paper book retail chain still, for the moment, standing.

Like a Jedi light saber, this book is a more elegant weapon for more civilized age. It's as damning an indictment of capitalism as anyone in the capitalism-damning racket could possibly want. If that's not entertaining enough, it's just plain old weird. The effect for me was like sitting around a campfire listening to a scary story come out of a solitary face in the darkness, only with routine business practice standing in for the madman with a hook instead of a hand. The very very even, very very calm tone seemed hypnotic to me, but I guess it's a short hop from hypnotic to sleep-inducing for many readers. I could definitely understand those who found it difficult to plow through the reproduced-in-full summations of the opposing lawyers in the criminal prosecution at the book's center. Ditto for the full names and thumbnail biographies for all of the jurors in the same trial, none of whom does or says anything vital to the plot after their introduction.

Speaking of which, in this novel, the prosecution is allowed to address the jury finally, after the defense. What's up with that? That never happened in Perry Mason, Matlock, etc. I'll bet a nice annotated paper version, bought at a failing bookstore chain, would have had a footnote explaining. Serves me right for being a cheapskate.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodore Dreiser's The Financier (1912), based on the real-life story of a high-finance dark winner Charles Yerkes, is my favorite novel. Period. Dreiser’s star of the story, Frank A. Cowperwood, shines in a historic line of Western cultural antiheroes – acquisitive, cunning, seductive big bad characters who hit resistance. I put Cowperwood with Satan in Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost (1667) and Michael Corleone in Mario Cuzo’s The Godfather (1972) film and J.R. Ewing in the tv soap drama Dallas (1978 to 1991).

I re-read The Financier this month, and on the second go-round, it is gritty and fresh as can be, 101 years after its publication. It burns even brighter for an America that has suffered the terrible financial collapse of 2008. Dreiser, a journalist before he wrote novels, pulls the narrative to get Yerke's story told accurately, and the historical period depicted carefully -- every bit as well as Matthew Weiner captures the 1960s in detail on the Mad Men (2007 - ) tv series in a way that radiates for a whole modern epoch.

The Financier is a pinnacle of American Naturalism, I say. Literary critics have treated The Financier as secondary to his more romantic masterworks, Sister Carrie (1900, Dreiser's first novel) and An American Tragedy (1925, his last). Much as I love those too, I put The Financier first.

Exciting to note, this is only the first novel in Dreiser's "Trilogy of Desire." Next up, the sequel: I'll re-read The Titan (1914).

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on the recommendation of possibly either Howard Zinn or Noam Chomsky. Not directly, of course, but because they wrote about it in something that I read that either of them wrote. Despite a lot of heady and difficult to understand financial talk, its a remarkable story of the greed and sense of privilege exhibited by the very wealthy. Frank Algernon Cowperwood is kind of a selfish ass. He steps on everyone in his way. He lies, cheats and steals when he is already a millionaire. He marries his ideal of a trophy wife, and then when she ages and is no longer suitable in his estimation he pursues an affair with a considerably younger woman, alienating one of his closest business associates in the process. Dreiser provides some good insight into a society controlled by greed, corruption, inside dealing, political malfeasance, and the desire of men for power at whatever cost to the general population. Not a tough read (except for the financial details, some of which are baffling to me... But that could also be because of the antiquated system with which it deals. The story takes place before, during and just after the Civil War), but at times beautifully written and certainly worthwhile. Though the dealings of the wealthy and the stock markets have changed, the nature of men has not and this tale rings true even today.

[Ignas Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yra teorija, kad lengvi laikai neugdo stiprių žmonių. Kaikurie taip pat prideda, kad lengvi laikai ar geras gyvenimas nekuria stiprių autorių.

Turbūt antrinu šiai minčiai, suprasdamas, kad tokį genijų kiekį, kaip 20-tajam amžiuj: Hemingway, Dreiser, Orwell, Marquez ir t.t.t.t.t., atrasti 21-ajame kolkas sunku, ar, tiksliau, neįmanoma.

Dreizerio romaną (trilogiją) į rankus imu jau antrą kartą, kadangi su kiekvienu penkmečiu ateina vis įvairesnės gyvenimo patirties, o tai savo ruožtu verčia vis labiau stebėtis Dreizerio pastebėjimų taiklumu.

Mano nuomone, tai autorius, taip tiksliai supratęs ir perteikęs visiškai jam skirtingos būtybės - verslininko - emocijas, perrašęs tai faktų ir biografijos fone. O ir pagrindinio veikėjo gyvenimo linija bei pasiekimų sąrašas (ši knyga - romananas/biografija) - grandioziniai. Nuo Čikagos tramvajų iki Londono metro.

Tai knyga, kurią turbūt, jei laiko rėmai leis, skaitysiu dar ir dar.

[Ильяс Джаз]

Книга мне очень понравилась. Понравился стиль написания книги, философские вставки в начале глав.
Больше всего понравился образ Фрэнка. Его уверенность в себе, в своих силах и его расчетливый ум.
В этом книге хорошо показано, что у каждого своя правда и можно понять мотивы каждого персонажа, в это книге нет хороших и нет плохих.
Порой переживаешь за главного персонажа, порой винишь его в какие то моменты.
История очень динамично развивается, нету затяжных моментов, автор спокойно может перескочить месяца, года.
Всем советую прочесть. Сам же позже начну читать продолжение этой истории.

[Tina Tamman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is of course old and wordy but I enjoyed it very much because human nature and living on credit have not changed, are with us as much today as they were then. Although first published in 1912, the book goes back even further to the 1870s. In a way it could be seen as a kind of history of the United States of that period. As to the modern reader, who today does not want to be successful and clever, have a lot of money etc? The world has not changed that much.
The novel covers about a dozen years of a young man's life. Frank Cowperwood is the main protagonist: he is a talented and promising broker. He is 36 as the book closes, has had his ups and downs. "Events, dear boy, events!" I kept thinking as I was reading it.
The novel's strength is that it does not condemn its hero and does not turn him into a paragon of virtue while questioning the morals of society. The scene when Frank finally breaks down and cries is well worth waiting for.
Incidentally, I often find old novels very moving as opposed to modern ones, particularly those that are much hyped, which can be just so-so.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Financier' is the first book in a trilogy that looks a personalities through objective lenses based on Dreiser's view of the world. In a sense it is an amorality play. It's main character is covered from his youth through his rise in the financial industry to his downfall and imprisonment and his financial redemption. I paints a character in depth that pursues whatever he desires, and is seen as intelligent and precise and unruffled by anything that might block his path.
The reader is made to feel that in a way he deserves a comeupance and yet romanticises his skill at acquiring wealth.
The story line justifies his love affairs as long as they are bases on honorable attraction, which of course is defined by the characters own needs. It tries to paint societal expectations of appropriate behaviour as some enforcement of appearances of men far more flawed than the main character.
It was interesting to me as it sits on the very cusp of a startling change in morals that would be ushered in by the 'Roaring 20s'. It is almost as though Dreiser was preparing the path for what was coming. A classic worth reading, and definitely not assigned by the nuns in my High School, so missed in early life.
One critic called it a look at the dark side...but that is always a relative thing. A man choosing to make money on the losses of others and who can break marriage vows can seem quaint as a view from the dark side given the brutality that the next wars would bring.

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro que ilustra las finanzas, inteligente e instructivo; está narrado a manera de novela, por lo que, su lectura es amena.
No me gustó la parte en que implica que Frank se perdió por una mujer, en una pareja la responsabilidad es de dos, él tomo su decisión; aunque el libro lo hace ver como presa de los encantos de Aileen, pienso que fue víctima de su soberbia y deseo de belleza.
It is a book that illustrates finances, intelligent and instructive; It is narrated as a novel, so, its reading is enjoyable.
I did not like the part that implies that Frank was lost by a woman, in a couple the responsibility is two, he made his decision; Although the book makes it look like prey to the charms of Aileen, I think he was a victim of he own pride and desire for beauty.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a very politically correct written book. It has love, betrayel, intrigue, atmosphere, good descriptions, nice ideas. However it lacks emotion. That is why 4 stars or 3,5 if I could. Everything is very clearly and soberly presented, even the emotions of the characters are so thoughly described, that they don't produce any impact on the reader at all.
The whole financial stuff - I didn't quite understood everything but it is not that important. You get into the story.
Because of the sober way of presenting the story, it was often quite boring, and the whole book seemed endless. But I still got to its end !

[Artem Polishchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Замечательная книга, раскрывающая не только обычаи и нравы финансового рынка США конца 19-го века, но и расширяюшая понимание основ финансовой деятельности. Противоречивое отношение к главному герою, вперемежку с впечатлениями от ситуации с поведением капитала и демократическими процессами тех времен заслуживает запастись терпением и прочесть произведение. Мне понравилось. Очень

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Self-seeking and corruption in finance and politics.

[Dpdwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the main character, Cowperwood, seemed a precursor to Ayn Rand, I found the novel compelling, not least the details of city life in era after the Civil War. The trolley lines were just forming and there was a rough, mad scramble to secure the best routes. The first penitentiary, based on Quaker ideas of solitary confinement had just been opened. Cowperwood's morality may have been dubious but it was impossible not to keep reading. Sample quote:

"That thing conscience, which obsesses and rides some people to destruction, did not trouble him at all. He had no consciousness of what is currently known as sin. There were just two faces to the shield of life from the point of view of his peculiar mind-strength and weakness. Right and wrong? He did not know about those. They were bound up in metaphysical abstrusities about which he did not care to bother. Good and evil? Those were toys of clerics, by which they made money. And as for social favor or social ostracism which, on occasion, so quickly followed upon the heels of disaster of any kind, well, what was social ostracism? Had either he or his parents been of the best society as yet? And since not, and despite this present mix-up, might not the future hold social restoration and position for him? It might. Morality and immorality? He never considered them. But strength and weakness--oh, yes! If you had strength you could protect yourself always and be something. If you were weak--pass quickly to the rear and get out of the range of the guns."

[vhatos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перший роман трилогії дає розуміння американського способу життя: гра на біржі, багатство, банкрутство, судові справи, знову багатство. Коли читав, то все це виглядало таким неймовірним. Головний герой ризикує, виграє, програє, знову виграє...

[Gulzira · Rating 4 out of 5]

В школьные годы из Драйзера я читала только Сестру Кери, но почти подзабыла весь сюжет. Решила перечитать Драйзера и начала с трилогии Финансиста. В начале было скучновато, из за этого были паузы в его чтении, но набравшись терпения я продолжила чтение и сейчас не сожалею, обязательно прочту оставшиеся две книги трилогии.
Если говорить о Финансисте, то я ещё раз убедилась, насколько общество людей во всеx временаx и эпоxаx, в сущности своем, одинаковы, на пути достижения успеxа, богатства, влияния, власти, способно к притворству,коварству, вероломству и лживости и жадности. Все имеют свою цену. И Каупервуд пользуясь деньгами, не принадлежавшим ему, относился к ним, как к собственным, жадно используя иx при достижении своиx мелкиx целей, как положение в обществе, обогащение, возможность обладать материальными благами, при этом позабыв о морали, о сострадании, простой человеческой доброте.
Вместе с тем, удивляет его стойкость дуxа и вера в xорошее и прекрасное будущее, что позволяло ему не падать дуxом и присбосабливало его к любым жизненным ситуациям и трудностям, умение иx преодолеть, надо отметить, это очень xорошее качество, присутствующее в нем.

[Єгор Домачук · Rating 3 out of 5]

«Во всяком случае, это разумный шаг»
Интересно было почитать художественное произведение с четким описанием финансовых операций, но сама история какая то нудная. Мораль вообще такова:
«Забудьте про ответственность, совесть и этические устои, ведь ваша сообразительность все равно приведет вас к успеху»
Главный герой не вызывает у меня сопереживание, да и вообще нет ОТЛИЧНОГО персонажа, все какие то обычные, сухие

Драйзер родился на 20 лет раньше Хемингуэя, а по стилю написания разница будто в 2 веках
Оценка даже 2,5 , а не 3

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrator follows crude businessman Frank Cowperwood through an affair, illegal trading and jail. I think this book is one you'll either love or hate. In my opinion, Cowperwood is sexualized because he gets what he wants regardless of the feelings of others. Read Friedrich Nietszche if you want to study Frank's intentions--he's a Nietzschean overman without a doubt.

[ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

the best part of this book was when cowperwood was finally going to jail and his wife, after spending the entire book not leaving him after knowing he didn’t love her and also that he was having an affair, was like “lol bye”

[Kate S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am intrigued. Looking forward to finishing this trilogy.