Frank Algernon Cowperwood, the central character of Theodore Dreiser's previous work "The Financier," is now out of the Eastern District Penitentiary of Philadelphia. He still has his mistress and his fortune, plans to divorce his wife, and leaves for Chicago to scout its possibilities for a future home. He has letters of introduction to the most influential people--a bank president named Mr. Addison, for a start. Cowperwood is presented to others--lawyers, businessmen, and judges. At this beginning not one of them knew he had been incarcerated, and he wondered if that knowledge would affect their attitude towards him. He finally confesses his recent history to Addison and decides to establish his new company in Chicago. He carefully and thoroughly scrutinizes the conditions for establishing a wealth that would be envied by powerful men and selfish women. "The magnetizing power of fame is great." As Cowperwood climbs the glorified mountain and sets out to ultimately conquer this new world, his past foibles overcome him again--his desire for beautiful women, his acquisition of unbelievable wealth, his need to be accepted and understood and revered. His genius for social and financial manipulations fails him in politics. The ending is a philosophical overview of what has happened and what can happen to a man with a restless heart.
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45 editions First published in 1914
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History Created October 17, 2009 · 9 revisions
| November 23, 2012 | Edited by Anand Chitipothu | Reverted spam |
| November 21, 2012 | Edited by 188.190.124.73 | Edited without comment. |
| March 12, 2011 | Edited by George | Edited without comment. |
| March 12, 2011 | Edited by George | Added new cover |
| October 17, 2009 | Created by WorkBot | add works page |