Frank Norris

The Pit: a Story of Chicago is a story about corruption, greed, and redemption. Curtis Jadwin a rich and powerful capitalist decides to corner the market on wheat ignoring the misery and pain that this attempt will bring on those who need the crop to survive. Ultimately he has no idea how much this attempt will cost him and what it will take to find redemption.

A lesser-known American classic, McTeague explores the darker side of success and the pitfalls of marriage for a turn-of-the-century couple. McTeague is the story of a poor dentist scraping by in San Francisco at the end of the 19th century, and his wife Trina, whose $5,000 lottery winning sets in motion a shocking chain of events. Fans of Jack London and Theodore Dreiser will appreciate the richly crafted prose and the historically accurate portrayal of 19th century America. Few works have captured the seamy side of American urban life with such graphic intensity.