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The Genius
Eugene Wilta, an artist, is representative of the social and moral changes that took place at the end of the Victorian 19th century
744 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1915
154 people are currently reading
1667 people want to read
About the author
Theodore Dreiser
453 books920 followersNaturalistic 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...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 5, 2012
My first Dreiser and my fav!!
May 3, 2013
the best book that I have ever read
September 19, 2015
In November of 1911 Theodore Dreiser sailed for Europe with his English publisher Grant Richards. Dreiser would spend almost six months touring England, with side trips to Florence and Berlin. He returned on 11 April 1912 on the liner Kroonland, having passed up the opportunity to sail on the maiden voyage of the Titanic two days earlier for lack of funds. Having come that close to disaster he would have to continue writing in America to produce the books whose advances had funded his trip abroad. One of those books was his fifth novel, The "Genius", published in 1915.
The "Genius" is a novel dealing with the American Artist and his search for a place in American life. The three sections of the novel narrate the story of an artist who begins his life in a small Midwestern town and eventually reaches the heights of magazine publishing in New York City. The first part, "Youth", contains some of Dreiser's best writing and chronicles the youth of Eugene Witla growing up in a middle-class family in Illinois. He moves to Chicago where he becomes a newspaper illustrator and studies evenings at the Art Institute. His life there includes a variety of jobs and the beginnings of his relationships with women that will become an important theme in the book. He returns home and meets a young girl from Wisconsin, Angela Blue, who will he will eventually marry; but only after having spent time as an illustrator in New York. Developing his career there he becomes an artist with potential for major success. The first part of the novel concludes with his return to Wisconsin as he is about to marry Angela, a farm girl who is older and much more conservative than Eugene, the eager independent artist. Their differences are never reconciled over the course of a marriage that covers most of the succeeding two sections of the novel. "Youth" is by far the most successful part of the novel as the remaining five hundred-plus pages of parts two and three become somewhat repetitive with Eugene's multiple affairs with women as background to his rise as a painter and ensuing nervous breakdown. His own destructive impulses impair his career and wound his marriage. Some have suggested that Dreiser's attempts to adapt the story too closely to his own biography may account for some of the problems of these sections. Eugene's life seems to drift. At his peak his genius for painting seemed sui generis and he was becoming recognized in artistic circles, but he made questionable decisions about the direction of his life that took him away from pure art and into the publishing business and investments where, after some apparent success, he ultimately failed.
The epic scope and strength of the novel are marred by unrealistic passages and melodramatic moments and ultimately a failure of the novelist to present a coherent direction for Eugene's life. Dreiser's power as a story-teller holds the novel together in spite of these issues, but he is not able to succeed in bringing it to the level of his earlier successes in Sister Carrie, Jennie Gerhardt, and The Financier. Dreiser's main critical champion, H. L. Mencken, praised its epic panorama while recognizing the "rambling, formless, and chaotic" nature of much of the novel. Other literary critics were less kind. As a fan of Dreiser's work for many years I recognize the flaws but would nonetheless recommend this novel to any who have first enjoyed the best of his novelistic efforts. The greatness within The "Genius" is easier to perceive with that reading as your background.
The "Genius" is a novel dealing with the American Artist and his search for a place in American life. The three sections of the novel narrate the story of an artist who begins his life in a small Midwestern town and eventually reaches the heights of magazine publishing in New York City. The first part, "Youth", contains some of Dreiser's best writing and chronicles the youth of Eugene Witla growing up in a middle-class family in Illinois. He moves to Chicago where he becomes a newspaper illustrator and studies evenings at the Art Institute. His life there includes a variety of jobs and the beginnings of his relationships with women that will become an important theme in the book. He returns home and meets a young girl from Wisconsin, Angela Blue, who will he will eventually marry; but only after having spent time as an illustrator in New York. Developing his career there he becomes an artist with potential for major success. The first part of the novel concludes with his return to Wisconsin as he is about to marry Angela, a farm girl who is older and much more conservative than Eugene, the eager independent artist. Their differences are never reconciled over the course of a marriage that covers most of the succeeding two sections of the novel. "Youth" is by far the most successful part of the novel as the remaining five hundred-plus pages of parts two and three become somewhat repetitive with Eugene's multiple affairs with women as background to his rise as a painter and ensuing nervous breakdown. His own destructive impulses impair his career and wound his marriage. Some have suggested that Dreiser's attempts to adapt the story too closely to his own biography may account for some of the problems of these sections. Eugene's life seems to drift. At his peak his genius for painting seemed sui generis and he was becoming recognized in artistic circles, but he made questionable decisions about the direction of his life that took him away from pure art and into the publishing business and investments where, after some apparent success, he ultimately failed.
The epic scope and strength of the novel are marred by unrealistic passages and melodramatic moments and ultimately a failure of the novelist to present a coherent direction for Eugene's life. Dreiser's power as a story-teller holds the novel together in spite of these issues, but he is not able to succeed in bringing it to the level of his earlier successes in Sister Carrie, Jennie Gerhardt, and The Financier. Dreiser's main critical champion, H. L. Mencken, praised its epic panorama while recognizing the "rambling, formless, and chaotic" nature of much of the novel. Other literary critics were less kind. As a fan of Dreiser's work for many years I recognize the flaws but would nonetheless recommend this novel to any who have first enjoyed the best of his novelistic efforts. The greatness within The "Genius" is easier to perceive with that reading as your background.
September 2, 2014
Well, to tell the truth I expected maybe little more than this after reading his Trilogy of Desire 3 years ago...
But let's go step by step.
I do not appreciate the size of this book - 700 and smth. pages - really big one. But as I understand Dreiser tried to put into it not only his bio but many arguments concerning eternal humanity problem - relationship between people and especially marriage.
The biggest point which humiliates this book in my opinion was the main character - Eugene Witla. He was in many aspects close to Frank Cowperwood (i liked him so much), but not exactly. I could never and I probably won't understand why people always think that the talent or in this case genius shouldn't be judged with general principles. And somehow such people can let themselves live with their own rules, using such ordinary "common" people as Angela. I didn't understand Eugene with his attitude to women and what I mostly dislike is that Theodor Dreiser fully approved him through every page. But the explanation appears to be very simple - that was him and he really thought that he deserved to be happy even though other people would suffer.
What i really enjoy in his book is numerous descriptions of New York, Chicago, Blackwood and so on.. Because I do like and I'm very interested in USA history and people living there. And this book brought me on the New York street with Eugene and Angela as in 5th Avenue as in miserable parts of this city.
But mostly I love in this book Angela! To my mind the only one who loves her was me: not Dreiser and not Eugene. But in my opinion, she is the one who deserves real admiration in this story. For me she is kind of perfect wife and partner. And I'm very sorry that apparently such qualities like kindness, honesty and faith are no more longer value for men (according Genius). The world is driven by beauty and only!
To sum up I want to say that generally I like this book although it caused lots of contradictory thoughts in my mind. Although for now I can not agree with Dreiser point of view I still think he is one of the most wonderful writers in the world.
July 16, 2013
Эта действительно прекрасная книга! не удивительно, что Гений являлся любимым произведением Драйзера... это своего рода автобиографический роман автора, где главным героем является художник, который переживает взлеты и горькие падения...
Роман поразил своим реалистичным, ярким и увлекательным описанием организации общественной и деловой жизни, а также жизненных перипетий художника, который одновременно был очень талантлив, но в то же время не был достаточно твердым и не мог совладать собой перед красотой, в частности женской...
Роман чрезвычайно точно описывает карьерные аспекты главного героя и содержит множество поучительных рекомендаций... Очень запомнился совет самого мудрого шефа главного героя - так вот, он однажды похвалив Юджина за хорошую работу, позволил себе по-отцовски дать ему совет, он сказал: "ты фонтанируешь идеями, бросаешься ими налево и направо, но не утруждаешь себя чуть дольше поразмыслить над ними прежде..."; "ты чересчур увлекаешься красотой и не можешь устоять перед красивой жизнью и роскошью, что до добра не приведет..."...
В конце концов так и получилось, Юджин, будучи очень падок до красоты и роскоши, не мог наслаждаться тем, что имел (любящую жену и хорошую работу) и в результате одной из очередных авантюр лишился как своей работы, так и жены...
Роман заканчивается неоднозначно - Юджин остается вдовцом с новорожденной дочкой - и читателю остается только гадать, как сложится его судьба далее...
Роман поразил своим реалистичным, ярким и увлекательным описанием организации общественной и деловой жизни, а также жизненных перипетий художника, который одновременно был очень талантлив, но в то же время не был достаточно твердым и не мог совладать собой перед красотой, в частности женской...
Роман чрезвычайно точно описывает карьерные аспекты главного героя и содержит множество поучительных рекомендаций... Очень запомнился совет самого мудрого шефа главного героя - так вот, он однажды похвалив Юджина за хорошую работу, позволил себе по-отцовски дать ему совет, он сказал: "ты фонтанируешь идеями, бросаешься ими налево и направо, но не утруждаешь себя чуть дольше поразмыслить над ними прежде..."; "ты чересчур увлекаешься красотой и не можешь устоять перед красивой жизнью и роскошью, что до добра не приведет..."...
В конце концов так и получилось, Юджин, будучи очень падок до красоты и роскоши, не мог наслаждаться тем, что имел (любящую жену и хорошую работу) и в результате одной из очередных авантюр лишился как своей работы, так и жены...
Роман заканчивается неоднозначно - Юджин остается вдовцом с новорожденной дочкой - и читателю остается только гадать, как сложится его судьба далее...
September 18, 2014
"The Genius" stirs up contradictory feelings. I haven't seen such depth of character's thoughts and such story of self-development in any book. It is an incredible in-depth analysis of the human soul, a very frank one, without jugglings and excuses. It is a digging in the human soul as such in the process of becoming a man, trying not to deceive oneself about the sincerity / insincerity of what you feel.
Though, there are some "buts". Moral standards raised by the author in this novel are not entirely applicable to the modern society. But there are no excuses for Eugene's behaviour while he was married. Thankfully, nowadays we can get divorce much more easily.
Timeline is not accurate in the novel. I didn't like the religious nonsense in the end of the book. Though, the quote from Spencer's "Facts and Comments" is remarkable. This book has more pages that any one I've ever read. So, sometimes I was bored, especially during the conflict between Eugene and Suzanne on one side, and Angela and Suzanne's mother on the other.
In general, "The Genius" is definitely worth reading. I like it better than "Jennie Gerhardt" (the only other book that I read by Theodore Dreiser).
Though, there are some "buts". Moral standards raised by the author in this novel are not entirely applicable to the modern society. But there are no excuses for Eugene's behaviour while he was married. Thankfully, nowadays we can get divorce much more easily.
Timeline is not accurate in the novel. I didn't like the religious nonsense in the end of the book. Though, the quote from Spencer's "Facts and Comments" is remarkable. This book has more pages that any one I've ever read. So, sometimes I was bored, especially during the conflict between Eugene and Suzanne on one side, and Angela and Suzanne's mother on the other.
In general, "The Genius" is definitely worth reading. I like it better than "Jennie Gerhardt" (the only other book that I read by Theodore Dreiser).
November 13, 2013
300 pages into this 750 page tome, and I've suddenly decided I've had enough. I loved sister Carrie and an American tragedy, but this book just seemed to repeat itself over and over again. this dude is obsessed with young, pretty women, and repeatedly becomes enraptured with them. the first 300 pages show little character or plot development. they were good enough, but I had no desire to read on.
December 20, 2020
Absolutely mesmerizing book!
I am astonished by the eloquence and depths of thought and events which occurred within the novel. As far as I know, Theodore Dreiser is not a philosopher, yet this story is exactly a philosophical study of life, man and woman themselves. It is so delicate, so subtle, so uncompromisingly sharp and harsh and difficult to swallow by being extraordinarily ingenious. It is exactly the type of a novel I appreciate. Deeply speculative, profound and extracting everything, without leaving anything concealed.
Oh, beauty, nature and spirit! This is everything I long for as well, but, of course, together with luxury and strength. These things are virtues when they are adopted by a virtuous mind, no one can convince me the opposite.
This book is a complete joy for the senses and for the thought!
I am astonished by the eloquence and depths of thought and events which occurred within the novel. As far as I know, Theodore Dreiser is not a philosopher, yet this story is exactly a philosophical study of life, man and woman themselves. It is so delicate, so subtle, so uncompromisingly sharp and harsh and difficult to swallow by being extraordinarily ingenious. It is exactly the type of a novel I appreciate. Deeply speculative, profound and extracting everything, without leaving anything concealed.
Oh, beauty, nature and spirit! This is everything I long for as well, but, of course, together with luxury and strength. These things are virtues when they are adopted by a virtuous mind, no one can convince me the opposite.
This book is a complete joy for the senses and for the thought!
July 23, 2013
The best! From now and onwards my favorite novel!!
May 20, 2019
Best book ever
Want to read
August 29, 2020 At this point, I declare...Dreiser, what a writer. More books to land in yet another reading slump...
August 25, 2012
Reading 821 pages on an Android phone takes an awful lot of thumb taps, but the book was free! Unlike modern "soft porn" like the "50 Shades..." series, The Genius was not widely circulated because of objections to the sexual content--which is not to say there is any sexual content by modern standards. Kissing, embracing, passionate exchanges of words and the mere suggestion that anything else occurred were enough to ban this book in 1915.
Dreiser creates the life of Eugene Witla, from his early days as a young man trying to make his way in the world as an artist, doing drawings for Newspapers, to his days in art school, his fascination with urban landscapes, and his even greater fascination with young women. There is some social commentary, and a great deal of observation on the business of America in transportation, manufacturing, living conditions, the daily activities during the last part of the 19th century. Witla's "nervous breakdown" and subsequent attempts to recover make an interesting commentary on the common notions of the time about mental health. There are some parallels to Tolstoy's Anna Karenina , especially when he goes to work in the railroad carpentry shop where he toils alongside laborers like Levin did with his peasants on the estate. He works there, but he is never really part of their culture.
Witla is observing his world, sometimes painting it, sometimes organizing it in his own image of how things should work--while others have their own ideas about how things should work. We are introduced to the rich, and the middle class and the common man, getting a slice of life in a time not that far removed from our own.
Dreiser creates the life of Eugene Witla, from his early days as a young man trying to make his way in the world as an artist, doing drawings for Newspapers, to his days in art school, his fascination with urban landscapes, and his even greater fascination with young women. There is some social commentary, and a great deal of observation on the business of America in transportation, manufacturing, living conditions, the daily activities during the last part of the 19th century. Witla's "nervous breakdown" and subsequent attempts to recover make an interesting commentary on the common notions of the time about mental health. There are some parallels to Tolstoy's Anna Karenina , especially when he goes to work in the railroad carpentry shop where he toils alongside laborers like Levin did with his peasants on the estate. He works there, but he is never really part of their culture.
Witla is observing his world, sometimes painting it, sometimes organizing it in his own image of how things should work--while others have their own ideas about how things should work. We are introduced to the rich, and the middle class and the common man, getting a slice of life in a time not that far removed from our own.
January 18, 2020
Having enjoyed AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY in my high school AP English class many years ago, I looked forward to THE "GENIUS," published in 1915, declared obscene and recalled from bookstores. To be sure, by today's standards of obscenity and graphic sex, there is nothing obscene about THE "GENIUS." It regularly garners rave reviews and recognition as one of Dreiser's greatest works. Lots of interesting details of life in New York and Chicago in the early 20th century, great detail and insights into personal challenges and motivations of a struggling, gifted artist. But I found about halfway through the 744 pages a great boredom and monotony set in. As usual, I leave the literary evaluation to those better equipped to evaluate. My one-star rating simply reflects my lack of enjoyment in reading it.
January 15, 2022
A very disappointing book.
The main character is not believable at all, his "genius" is dubious at best, and every woman he somehow manages to win over is way out of his league. I understand this is a semi autobiography, but Eugene was not a genius and his success through the book tastes sour. Was that an intention of the writer or just plain bad writing I don't know, but the book is boring, extremely repetitive(even when taking into account the time it was written) and slow. There are good parts, wonderful descriptions of new York,Chicago and rural USA but not enough to hold it's own against the onslaught of unbelievable "friendships" our untalented "genius" somehow manages to pull off.
The main character is not believable at all, his "genius" is dubious at best, and every woman he somehow manages to win over is way out of his league. I understand this is a semi autobiography, but Eugene was not a genius and his success through the book tastes sour. Was that an intention of the writer or just plain bad writing I don't know, but the book is boring, extremely repetitive(even when taking into account the time it was written) and slow. There are good parts, wonderful descriptions of new York,Chicago and rural USA but not enough to hold it's own against the onslaught of unbelievable "friendships" our untalented "genius" somehow manages to pull off.
October 11, 2020
4-5 il əvvəl oxumağa başlayıb niyəsə yarım qoymuşdum. Amma nə harda qaldığımı, nə də əsər haqqında təssüratımı xatırlamadığım üçün yenidən cəhd etdim. Bir obrazı bu dəfə onun daxili dünyası ilə deyil kənardan müşahidəçi ilə necə inkişaf etdiyini görürük. Ona görə də mən sevə ya da isinişə bilmədim obraza. Yucini öz dilindən tanımaq daha maraqlı olardı, daimi düşüncələrini oxumaq daha qane edərdi məni. Hər halda cəmiyyətdə fərqli görünən insanların və ya dahilərin xüsusiyyətləri təsvir edilmiş bir kitabdır. Nə qazandırdı, nə də mütləq oxunmalıdır. Vaxt keçirmək üçün klassika kimi mümkündür yəqin.
September 20, 2015
The Genius is a tremendous, multifaceted novel, depicting urban Chicago and New York in the industrial boom, and the trials and travails of a precocious artist prone to weaknesses in his personal romantic life. With very few characters, and a great breadth of plot time, Dreiser crafts events that touch the reader and are memorable, rendered meaningful by their isolation.
November 6, 2018
The story of a narcissistic artist looking for sex/love. A guy who is never satisfied.
interesting, readble, this novel is timeless in its depiction of the conflict in creative people between freedom to express oneself and to ignore tradition, versus the pressure to live up to expectations of society. I love Dreiser and I don't understand the people who find his writing clunky..
interesting, readble, this novel is timeless in its depiction of the conflict in creative people between freedom to express oneself and to ignore tradition, versus the pressure to live up to expectations of society. I love Dreiser and I don't understand the people who find his writing clunky..
February 9, 2020
Немного затянуто. Очень похоже на многие его произведения... начиная от Американской трагедии, Сестры Керри, Дженни Герхард и заканчивая Финансистом/Титаном/Стоиком. Поэтому велкам тем, кто любит манеру написания и сюжеты Драйзера.
Последние страниц 100-200 ты просто глотал ибо уж больно было интересно, чем это все закончится.
Последние страниц 100-200 ты просто глотал ибо уж больно было интересно, чем это все закончится.
Read
May 17, 2012Do not read this unless you are a Dreiser fan. By the end I was totally disgusted with the main character. However, I felt it was a worthy effort with a lot of detail about the early 20th century, as that is when it was written and set.
March 8, 2015
"Beyond the reach of our intelligence as are the mysteries of the objects known by our senses, those presented in this universal matrix are, if we may say so, still further beyond the reach of our intelligence."
March 25, 2015
Eugene Witla. Philander? Absolutely. Infuriating self-destructive? Oh yes. Genius? Ehh...
Even my adviser felt bad about assigning me this novel. Considering the novel's excess, I had thought it would amount to more than it did. For me, Sister Carrie did more in less.
Even my adviser felt bad about assigning me this novel. Considering the novel's excess, I had thought it would amount to more than it did. For me, Sister Carrie did more in less.
March 6, 2017
Արվեստը ամեն մարդու բան չէ այո, բայց Դրայզերի երկհատորյակը չբացահայտեց Յուջինի հանճարը այլ միայն ցույց տվեց արտաքինի մեջ արտացոլվող գեղեցկության հանդեպ սերը ինչն էլ դրդում աղջիկներին վերաբերվել անձեռոցիկի պես... Դրայզերը կերտեց մի արվեստագետի կերպար, ով տենում էր այն ինչ տեսնում էր ու վերջ
September 26, 2017
The book is fascinating, especially the first two parts. So many insights about human nature, love, talent... but the last part is rather muddled and confusing. I expected more intriguing and bright ending.
December 23, 2012
To recognize beauty... but not understand it.
August 17, 2018
eugene witla is essentially jason bateman’s character in juno
March 2, 2022
Dreiser is a Genius.
November 23, 2012
"Brilliantly written !!"
September 13, 2017
Монументальный роман, повествующий о жизни, судьбе и разнообразных исканиях художника Юджина Витлы.
Во время чтения мне вспоминались сразу два романа Сомерсета Моэма – "Бремя страстей человеческих" и "Луна и грош". Один из них в свое время просто-таки измочалил меня описанием того, что с человеком делают его страсти (и весьма точным описанием, надо сказать), второй – не менее ярко показал, что творится в душе у художника, который физически не может не творить, отвергая все, что встает на пути между ним и его искусством. Подобные темы поднимаются и в "Гении".
Может ли художник не писать? А если это не приносит дохода? Предаст ли он самого себя, если откажется от творчества ради благосостояния?
Можно ли любить всю жизнь только одного человека, или любовь обречена на исчезновение через некоторое время? Можно (и нужно) ли прощать гению его стремление к новизне и свежим впечатлениям? А если он этим заставляет страдать других? А если, не получая их, страдает сам?
По сравнению с Моэмом Драйзер показался мне несколько менее эмоциональным что ли. Я прочитала, что многое в романе автобиографично, но, тем не ��енее, Драйзер более отстранен от персонажей и действительно смотрит на них со стороны, хотя и прекрасно описывает их мысли, чувства и переживания.
В книге нет однозначно плохих или хороших персонажей – всех можно понять. В разные периоды своей жизни герои то вызывают раздражение, то сочувствие, но, в любом случае, мотивы поведения каждого понятны и в какой-то мере оправданы. Просто иногда так случается, что жизнь сводит вместе людей, каждый из которых поступает вроде бы правильно и в согласии со своими внутренними установками, и его нельзя за это упрекнуть, но все в целом рождает в итоге драму, от которой мучаются все ее участники.
Но в романе интересны не только запутанные взаимоотношения героев и их попытки прийти к взаимопониманию и совместить несовместимое. Драйзер замечательно описывает жизнь американского общества во второй половине 19-го века, уделяя внимание самым разным ее сторонам. На протяжении многостраничного повествования можно узнать и о том, какие взгляды на поведение и нормы приличия господствовали в то время в провинции и в крупных городах, как была организована работа на предприятиях (будь то физический или интеллектуальный труд), как люди взлетали из низов и падали обратно, как зарождались новые секты и возникали новые способы зарабатывать деньги.
Все написанное выше – общие слова, которыми я хотела вкратце обрисовать, о чем роман. Что же касается моих личных впечатлений, то мне особенно интересны были описания того, как персонажи принимают важные решения и делают выбор, от которого зачастую зависит их дальнейшая жизнь – эти моменты, когда понимаешь, что любой неверный шаг может привести к краху, а то, что ты этот неверный шаг сделал, ты поймешь, возможно, только спустя многие годы. Или, что еще мучительнее, когда уже сейчас понимаешь, что совершаешь ошибку, но не находишь сил или возможностей остановиться и избежать ее. В жизни персонажей таких моментов было достаточно, и Драйзер каждый из них описывает увлекательно и достоверно.
Во время чтения мне вспоминались сразу два романа Сомерсета Моэма – "Бремя страстей человеческих" и "Луна и грош". Один из них в свое время просто-таки измочалил меня описанием того, что с человеком делают его страсти (и весьма точным описанием, надо сказать), второй – не менее ярко показал, что творится в душе у художника, который физически не может не творить, отвергая все, что встает на пути между ним и его искусством. Подобные темы поднимаются и в "Гении".
Может ли художник не писать? А если это не приносит дохода? Предаст ли он самого себя, если откажется от творчества ради благосостояния?
Можно ли любить всю жизнь только одного человека, или любовь обречена на исчезновение через некоторое время? Можно (и нужно) ли прощать гению его стремление к новизне и свежим впечатлениям? А если он этим заставляет страдать других? А если, не получая их, страдает сам?
По сравнению с Моэмом Драйзер показался мне несколько менее эмоциональным что ли. Я прочитала, что многое в романе автобиографично, но, тем не ��енее, Драйзер более отстранен от персонажей и действительно смотрит на них со стороны, хотя и прекрасно описывает их мысли, чувства и переживания.
В книге нет однозначно плохих или хороших персонажей – всех можно понять. В разные периоды своей жизни герои то вызывают раздражение, то сочувствие, но, в любом случае, мотивы поведения каждого понятны и в какой-то мере оправданы. Просто иногда так случается, что жизнь сводит вместе людей, каждый из которых поступает вроде бы правильно и в согласии со своими внутренними установками, и его нельзя за это упрекнуть, но все в целом рождает в итоге драму, от которой мучаются все ее участники.
Но в романе интересны не только запутанные взаимоотношения героев и их попытки прийти к взаимопониманию и совместить несовместимое. Драйзер замечательно описывает жизнь американского общества во второй половине 19-го века, уделяя внимание самым разным ее сторонам. На протяжении многостраничного повествования можно узнать и о том, какие взгляды на поведение и нормы приличия господствовали в то время в провинции и в крупных городах, как была организована работа на предприятиях (будь то физический или интеллектуальный труд), как люди взлетали из низов и падали обратно, как зарождались новые секты и возникали новые способы зарабатывать деньги.
Все написанное выше – общие слова, которыми я хотела вкратце обрисовать, о чем роман. Что же касается моих личных впечатлений, то мне особенно интересны были описания того, как персонажи принимают важные решения и делают выбор, от которого зачастую зависит их дальнейшая жизнь – эти моменты, когда понимаешь, что любой неверный шаг может привести к краху, а то, что ты этот неверный шаг сделал, ты поймешь, возможно, только спустя многие годы. Или, что еще мучительнее, когда уже сейчас понимаешь, что совершаешь ошибку, но не находишь сил или возможностей остановиться и избежать ее. В жизни персонажей таких моментов было достаточно, и Драйзер каждый из них описывает увлекательно и достоверно.
June 29, 2020
Without doubt one of the most beautiful of humankind’s feature is the power of creativity. It is with the help of the same quality that humankind is able to fulfill its idealistic aim and enhance their abilities. In literature and the logic of psychology, the issue of creativity is raised within topics related to the discussion of intelligence and thinking and reasoning.
But the question associated herein is: Are mood-swings inherently associated with creativity?
Eugene Tennyson Witla is a painter. In the novel he embodies the desires and disenchantment of Dreiser. His pursuit for perfect beauty always leaves him dissatisfied.
He regularly goes through peaks of creative energy and depths of depression.
The first part of the story “Youth” is just like Dreiser’s early life.
The second book, “Struggle” describes his unhappy married life with Angela Blue. Here, Dreiser draws heavily on his own failed marriage with Sallie White.
Eugene’s search of love outside marriage complicates is his personal life. He is also torn between the conflicting pressures of art and fame.
Eugene suffers a mental break-down and only in an asylum he regains mental health. After this dark period he suddenly rises in the world of fame and wealth follows.
In the third book “Revolt”, Eugene gets attracted towards Suzanne Dale, an 18-year girl.
At the view moment when he feels to be at the height of his powers, things start to go wrong. Eugene loses both his wife and lover; his wife dies in child-birth and his lover deserts him. He also loses money he has put in business.
Eugene comes out of the illusory world, and goes back to his art in a mood of philosophic open-mindedness
Dreiser’s message is clear. The individual’s heroic struggles come to nothing in a world where life is controlled by the inexplicable rules of nature.
“The Genius” is autobiographical in nature, where the central character is a self-portrait of Dreiser himself. Nevertheless it is a weak novel, as the author fails to objectify his personal life sufficiently.
This is certainly not a fully satirizing novel with several structural flaws. However, it does bear the stamp of Dreiser’s social vision.
But the question associated herein is: Are mood-swings inherently associated with creativity?
Eugene Tennyson Witla is a painter. In the novel he embodies the desires and disenchantment of Dreiser. His pursuit for perfect beauty always leaves him dissatisfied.
He regularly goes through peaks of creative energy and depths of depression.
The first part of the story “Youth” is just like Dreiser’s early life.
The second book, “Struggle” describes his unhappy married life with Angela Blue. Here, Dreiser draws heavily on his own failed marriage with Sallie White.
Eugene’s search of love outside marriage complicates is his personal life. He is also torn between the conflicting pressures of art and fame.
Eugene suffers a mental break-down and only in an asylum he regains mental health. After this dark period he suddenly rises in the world of fame and wealth follows.
In the third book “Revolt”, Eugene gets attracted towards Suzanne Dale, an 18-year girl.
At the view moment when he feels to be at the height of his powers, things start to go wrong. Eugene loses both his wife and lover; his wife dies in child-birth and his lover deserts him. He also loses money he has put in business.
Eugene comes out of the illusory world, and goes back to his art in a mood of philosophic open-mindedness
Dreiser’s message is clear. The individual’s heroic struggles come to nothing in a world where life is controlled by the inexplicable rules of nature.
“The Genius” is autobiographical in nature, where the central character is a self-portrait of Dreiser himself. Nevertheless it is a weak novel, as the author fails to objectify his personal life sufficiently.
This is certainly not a fully satirizing novel with several structural flaws. However, it does bear the stamp of Dreiser’s social vision.
March 16, 2020
Well, it takes forever to read this, but there are some rewards. Dreiser does two things well. (1) This is a fascinating contribution to US social history. Dreiser notices and conveys a lot -- about the economics of daily living, social life, personal relationships, residential decor, the role of artists in society and more. (2) There is some depth of psychological exploration of the characters, and a lot more sexuality that was acceptable to most people in 1915 when this was written.
But there are some flaws which left me disappointed. Eugene Witla is very hard to like, at least for me. His obsession with female beauty makes for uncomfortable reading today. He is self-absorbed, and narcissistic, and shows relatively little loyalty to people with whom he is intimate. I found his sexual obsessions tedious, but recognize that this subject was ground-breaking when the book was written. Still, women are only objects of personal pleasurew for Eugene, and I found this distasteful. The white male domination of business is worth noting, though uncomfortable to read. In addition, the prose is turgid, and often awkward, especially the terms of endearment Eugene uses in wooing the women to whom he is attracted.
Finally, the plot suffers from too much foreshadowing, and disintegrates in the last third of the book. I kept at this because I wanted to see how the story turned out, but was left with the feeling that Dreiser did not know how to end it. Eugene's relationship with Suzanne is difficult to understand today, though Mrs. Dale's machinations to undercut their relationship did hold my interest. The extensive discussion of Christian Science and its intersection with the writings of prominent philosophers was out of the blue, largely irrelevant and terribly tedious.
The book is worth reading as a mirror of the late 19th Century in the US. But a book this long should provide more reading pleasure than it does. It would have been a better read were it reduced by at least a third in length.
But there are some flaws which left me disappointed. Eugene Witla is very hard to like, at least for me. His obsession with female beauty makes for uncomfortable reading today. He is self-absorbed, and narcissistic, and shows relatively little loyalty to people with whom he is intimate. I found his sexual obsessions tedious, but recognize that this subject was ground-breaking when the book was written. Still, women are only objects of personal pleasurew for Eugene, and I found this distasteful. The white male domination of business is worth noting, though uncomfortable to read. In addition, the prose is turgid, and often awkward, especially the terms of endearment Eugene uses in wooing the women to whom he is attracted.
Finally, the plot suffers from too much foreshadowing, and disintegrates in the last third of the book. I kept at this because I wanted to see how the story turned out, but was left with the feeling that Dreiser did not know how to end it. Eugene's relationship with Suzanne is difficult to understand today, though Mrs. Dale's machinations to undercut their relationship did hold my interest. The extensive discussion of Christian Science and its intersection with the writings of prominent philosophers was out of the blue, largely irrelevant and terribly tedious.
The book is worth reading as a mirror of the late 19th Century in the US. But a book this long should provide more reading pleasure than it does. It would have been a better read were it reduced by at least a third in length.
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