The Financier

By: Theodore Dreiser

Narrated by: Brian Wright

The Financier of 1912 is the first volume of Theodore Dreiser’s novel Trilogy of Desire which also consists of "The Titan" (1914) and "The Stoic" (1947). The protagonist, Frank Algernon Cowperwood, is based on the real-life millionaire Charles Tyson Yerkes.

In The Financier, Dreiser describes the early life of Cowperhood in Philadelphia, beginning with his first transaction in an auction at the age of 17. This is followed by his rapid rise with jobs at Henry Waterman & Company, and Tighe & Company, forming his own business and trading on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

After the rise comes a fall, as the narrative chronicles his bankruptcy, prison sentence and the restoration of his fortune, also covering his divorce and remarriage. The Financier is an early example of a realistic novel where the chief protagonist is neither hero nor villain, and with detailed portrayals of the characters, settings and activities.

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