Sister Carrie (1900) by Theodore Dreiser is a landmark of American literary naturalism. It follows Caroline "Carrie" Meeber, a young woman who leaves rural Wisconsin for Chicago in pursuit of the American Dream. Drawn by desire and circumstance, she becomes involved with two men: the charming salesman Charles Drouet and the married manager George Hurstwood. While Carrie rises from factory worker to celebrated Broadway actress, Hurstwood spirals from prosperity into destitution and despair. The novel offers a stark portrayal of urban modernity, consumerism, and moral ambiguity, showing how chance and appetite shape human destinies. Once condemned for its frankness, it is now celebrated as a foundational masterpiece of American realism.
