Five powerful stories: "Free," the story of a man trying, as his wife lies dying, to understand why he never found happiness in marriage plus "The Second Choice," "Married," "Nigger Jeff," and "The Lost Phœbe."

"In 1919, having recently accepted the publishing contract of a new publisher, Dreiser proposed to publish a "book of characters" that would collect twelve biographical sketches of individuals who were major influences on Dreiser, both as a man and as a writer. The resulting narratives combine the best attributes of the character sketch, the autobiography, and the short story into miniature masterpieces of prose. The men profiled in Twelve Men are a diverse and colorful group: from Dreiser's equally famous brother, the song-writer Paul Dreiser's ("My Brother Paul"), to the entirely obscure railroad foreman Michael Burke ("The Mighty Rourke"), on whose work crew Dreiser had labored in 1903. The twelve narratives are compelling portraits of the men portrayed, but they also reveal many insights into Dreiser's own life and work."--Goodreads website.

Set in 19th century Philadelphia and based on the life of flamboyant financier C.T. Yerkes, Dreiser's portrayal of the unscrupulous magnate Frank Cowperwood embodies the idea that behind every great fortune there is a crime. In Philly the protagonist is eventually imprisoned for embezzlement of public funds. He later leaves prison, departs for Chicago, makes another fortune, and becomes involved in still further shaddy practices. You don't read Dreiser for literary finesse, but his great intensity and keen journalistic eye give this portrait a powerful reality. The author wrote two subsequent novels based on the life of Yerkes: "The Titan" and "The Stoic." --Amazon.com.

Jennie Gerhardt is a destitute young woman. While working in a hotel in Columbus, Ohio, Jennie meets George Brander, a United State Senator, who becomes infatuated with her. He helps her family and declares his wish to marry her. Jennie, grateful for his benevolence, agrees to sleep with him. He dies before they marry, and Jennie is pregnant. She gives birth to a daughter, Vesta, and moves to Cleveland with her mother. There she meets Lester Kane, a prosperous manufacturer's son, and their love must contend with continual dissaproval from his family.

"A collection of essays by editor, biographer, bibliographer, and book historian James L. W. West III, covering editorial theory, archival use, textual emendation, and scholarly annotation. Discusses the treatment of both public documents (novels, stories, nonfiction) and private texts (letters, diaries, journals, working papers)"--Provided by publisher.