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Chains: lesser novels and stories: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Chains: lesser novels and stories: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Chains: lesser novels and stories is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Dreiser, Theodore (1871–1945).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Chains: Lesser Novels and Stories" by Theodore Dreiser is a collection of narratives exploring themes of poverty, despair, and the human condition, likely written in the late 19th century. The book delves into the struggles of individuals trapped in dire circumstances, highlighting the difficulties faced by characters like Madeleine Kinsella, who navigates a harsh urban environment while grappling with her family's dysfunction and her own yearning for a better life. The opening of the book introduces Madeleine's grim existence in a rundown tenement, where the atmosphere is permeated by violence, drunkenness, and pervasive poverty. We learn about her oppressive family dynamics, marked by her father's alcoholism and her mother's neglect, which force her into a role of caretaker at an early age. As she grows, Madeleine's hope for a better life and love becomes evident; however, her encounters with the world are fraught with difficulties, leading her to questionable choices in search of escape. The narrative sets the stage for an exploration of her internal and external struggles as she faces the grim realities of her environment and the impacts of her circumstances on her future.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Chains: lesser novels and stories
  • Author credits: Dreiser, Theodore (1871–1945)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • American fiction -- 20th century
  • Short stories, American

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: American Literature
  • Category: Novels
  • Category: Short Stories

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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