Book reviews

The Financier
Theodore Dreiser Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Theodore Dreiser Books
New book search
Theodore Dreiser Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Financier
"Set in eighteenth century Philadelphia, “The Financier” is the story of the early life of Frank Cowperwood, the son of a low level banker who realizes his skill at finances and business. He is able to grow a rather large fortune through stock speculation and purchases of shares in the growing street railway industry.   He marries an older woman and has two children. He uses his riches to become socially prominent.

Things begin to crumble when he falls in love with, Aileen Butler, the daughter of a politically prominent Irish industrialist. They have an affair, which is discovered just when Cowperwood's business is under great duress as a result of a financial panic caused by the great Chicago fire. Pressed to cover large loans, Cowperwood engages in some legally questionable acts. When these are discovered, he is abandoned by his political allies. This is further complicated by the animosity of Aileen's father.

Cowperwood is put on trial for larceny. He is convicted and sent to prison, but pardoned after a year. He then proceeds to recoup his fortune, eventually leaving Philadelphia with Aileen for the greater promise of the west.
"

Jack Goodstein, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Financier
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 19th century
Life of a profession: - businessman, big
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - business executive
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 60's-90's
Profession/status: - business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Misc setting - prison

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to torture
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to The Financier
Jacaranda Vines by Tamara McKinley
Lincoln by Gore Vidal
Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven by Kaythrn Lasky
Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser
Sherlock in Love by Sena Jeter Naslund


Click here for more information about this book


Theodore Dreiser Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jack Goodstein  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Suzanne Weyn 10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush 5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Anonymous 12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino 10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield 10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls 10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan 9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi 9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine 9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington 9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody 9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden 9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen 9:55:24 PM
Marlo Morgan 9:54:58 PM

More message boards