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Sister Carrie
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Sister Carrie Hardcover - 2004 - 1st Edition

by Dreiser, Theodore


About this book

Journalist-turned-author Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie, which some consider to be the “greatest of all American urban novels,” is the quintessential country-mouse-in-the-city story, only more… risqué. The novel tells the story of Caroline “Sister Carrie” Meeber, a young girl from rural Wisconsin who moves to Chicago with hopes of becoming a star. Carrie first stays with her older sister and her husband, but she soon becomes involved with a married man and a series of other morally questionable decisions follow. While Carrie may sound obviously blinded by her dreams of a glamorous future — and some may argue that’s because she is — Dreiser chose to present her character and others with a focus on human instinct as opposed to judgment, making it an early work of the naturalist movement.

As one might expect, Dreiser had a difficult time finding and securing a publisher for Sister Carrie. After the manuscript had already been rejected twice, Doubleday, Page’s Frank Norris, author of the naturalistic novel McTeague, offered Dreiser a contract for the publication. This resulted in some upset within the publishing house — primarily due to book’s “lack of morality” — and Doubleday, Page tried to back out of the deal. Dreiser demanded that the contract be fulfilled and Doubleday published 1,008 copies in November 1900. However, the novel was perhaps not as thoroughly publicized as it could have been. Just 465 copies actually sold (not including the 129 that were sent out for reviews). The remaining 423 copies were later turned over to a remainder house.

Unsurprisingly, Sister Carrie received negative response shortly after publication. Beyond the novel’s general sexual content and overall pessimistic tone, critics of the time took issue with the idea of Carrie engaging in illicit sexual relationships without suffering any consequences. Also unsurprisingly, Sister Carrie is another example of a masterpiece that could only be appreciated with time. In his 1930 Nobel Prize lecture, Sinclair Lewis compared the impact of Dreiser’s Sister Carrie to the work of Mark Twain and Walt Whitman. Carrie, a film adaptation directed by William Wyler and starring Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones, premiered in 1952.

Sister Carrie is ranked 33rd on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century.

From the publisher

Theodore Dreiser's first and perhaps most accessible novel, Sister Carrie is an epic of urban life - the story of an innocent heroine adrift in an indifferent city. When small-town girl Carrie Meeber sets out for Chicago, she is equipped with nothing but a few dollars, a certain unspoiled beauty and charm, and a pitiful lack of preparation for the complex moral choices she will face.

First Edition Identification

Doubleday, Page first published Sister Carrie in 1900. Bound in red cloth, first editions have the same date listed on the title page as the copyright page.

Details

  • Title Sister Carrie
  • Author Dreiser, Theodore
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Publisher Thorndike Press
  • Date 2004-09
  • ISBN 9780786268887
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Sister Carrie

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

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Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780786268887
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Thorndike Press, 2004. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

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  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
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Sister Carrie
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Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
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ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
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UsedAcceptable. Used: Acceptable Condition.
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
Condition
UsedAcceptable
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$156.72
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedAcceptable. Used: Acceptable Condition.
Item Price
NZ$156.72
FREE shipping to USA
Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
Condition
UsedAcceptable
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
1
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
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NZ$156.72
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
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UsedGood
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
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Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
Condition
UsedGood
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$162.47
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Description:
UsedGood. Used Good:Minor shelf wear.
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NZ$162.47
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
Condition
UsedGood
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
1
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$162.47
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Show Details

Description:
UsedGood. Used Good:Minor shelf wear.
Item Price
NZ$162.47
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
UsedVeryGood. Used Very Good:Minor shelf wear.
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NZ$168.21
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Sister Carrie
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 13
9780786268887
ISBN 10
0786268883
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$168.21
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. Used Very Good:Minor shelf wear.
Item Price
NZ$168.21
FREE shipping to USA