Sister Carrie

Theodore Dreiser's groundbreaking novel, first published in 1900, follows a young country girl's ambitious journey to the city, where she seeks to achieve her American Dream through a life of sin instead of hard work. Upon its release, the novel faced fierce criticism and was quickly retracted for being "too shocking and sordid for polite readers." Yet, it is Dreiser's empathetic portrayal of everyday people and their struggles that ensures this controversial work remains a significant literary achievement.