Review "The Financier" by Theodore Dreiser

The summary

I have just read the compelling book - "The Financier" written by Theodore Dreiser, and I would like to share with You my review. This catchy story describes America in the 19th century when the financial foundation just started developing in the USA. In the start, every system has strengths and weaknesses and, in our world, we frequently can find some people who want to take control into their hands and use this opportunity only for their benefit. The book is named "The Financier" and tells us about money, which crazily influenced many people at that time. So, there we can meet characters who try their best to reach wealth and don't care about anyone except them.

The main character is Frank Cowperwood - a confident, brave, handsome, clever financier around whom the plot is written. During the reading, You will acquaint yourself with his bright background and the people who surrounded him in his quiet and tense times. Frank Cowperwood not only gifts you a story about breathtaking financial strategies during the Great Chicago Fire but also an incredibly illustrated love story. The women such as Lillian Semple Cowperwood and Edward Malia Butler turned Frank's life into an endless search for an answer to the question - "What is a real love for an interesting person like Frank Cowperwood?" I have read the whole book, and even now, I ask myself - "What will be next? Will he do some things again in his life, or will he start just a new clear page?" Consequently, the first chapter of the Trilogy of Desire ("The Financier"; "The Titan"; "The Stoic") forces You to take as faster as You can the next book, gradually dissolving all questions. In fact, I finished "The Financier" with the temptation to switch on the continuation of the controversial story.

The results

Theodore Dreiser persuaded me to dig deeper in terms of relationships between humans because the way he described this topic is impressive. While I was reading, I couldn't even imagine that the concept of "The Financier" is based on the real-life story of Charles Tyson Yerkes - an American financier. In truth, I felt it was "a doll theater" where high society played the most valuable roles. What path do people have to choose to reach their goals? What approach will they use to get it? Does this worth it, or should you better think about your actions one more time? These tricky questions tracked me all over the book. Furthermore, it created emotions such as mystery, disappointment, rethinking, and restraint. Likewise, I've started deeply pondering why people make friends and what is the purpose of it. If you are a general person, I am convinced that, occasionally, you ask yourself - "Why do people spend their time with me?" As a result, the book can give you a reason to reorganize your surrounding.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Regarding the strengths, "The Financier" led me to consider all facts that relate to the human attitude in society. So, in my youth, I will already be much more careful and attentive from the perspective of negotiating with people.

Likewise, I am partial to the way how the author depicted the environment in his book. Every room, every street, and every house immersed me in an irreplaceable atmosphere. Even how Theodore Dreiser described non-material things is an art. For instance, the character's character. Here is one of my favorite quotes - "A man, a real man, must never be an agent, a tool, or a gambler—acting for himself or for others—he must employ such. A real man—a financier—was never a tool. He used tools. He created. He led." And when you accumulate these hints of the characters, over time, you will be able to have the whole picture of the person. This gradual process is like playing Lego, but, in the end, you receive a comprehension, not a building.

Regarding the weaknesses, I only can mention that, for somebody, this book can seem to be boring. It has a lot of descriptions of financial operations, and sometimes I had to reread some pages to fully understand the ingenious process of manipulation of funds. So in my humble opinion, people that are not into economic and business topics will have a not enjoyable time, reading "The Financier" at the start.

Recommendations

Despite the fact that Theodore Dreiser used much financial information, the book is still fiction. So, if You are interested in economics and at the same time want to read about romantic relationships, I would highly recommend "The Financier" to consider. The story will dedicate You not only to the catchy plot of financial secrets of the USA in the 19th century but also it will get a lot of mystery emotions from the Cowperwood's love path.

Undoubtedly, I will proceed to read this catchy Frank's pace of life. The next books are "The Titan" and "The Stoic". At the end of my review, I would like to add my favorite quote from Dreiser's book - "A drowning man grasps at any straw..." Let me know what You think about it in the comments. Thank You for Your attention!