Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser

Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser was an American novelist active from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, and his work is regarded as an important link in the transition of American literature from romanticism to realism. Publicly available information on his nationality and dates of birth and death is limited. Five of his works are held in this collection, all English-language editions of the novel Sister Carrie. Set against the backdrop of city life, the novel follows the changing fortunes of a young woman in the metropolis; its calm, detailed prose emphasizes how environment and social forces shape human lives and shows a clear realist orientation. Dreiser's style is plain and observant, often focusing on the struggles and desires of ordinary people in modern society, and he has had a lasting influence on the later development of American fiction.