Theodore Dreiser

Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945) was an American novelist and journalist known for his realistic and naturalistic works. Born into poverty in Terre Haute, Indiana, he left school at the age of 15 to work as a newspaper reporter. His experiences in the newspaper industry informed his early novels, including "Sister Carrie" (1900) and "Jennie Gerhardt" (1911). Dreiser's work often explored the complexities of class, race, and gender in American society. Despite initial criticism for his frank depictions of human behavior, Dreiser's novels gained critical acclaim and remain influential in American literature. He received the Pulitzer Prize posthumously in 1946 for his novel "The Stoic."