Chains : lesser novels and stories by Theodore Dreiser
"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. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Sanctuary -- The hand -- Chains -- St. Columba and the river -- Convention -- Khat -- Typhoon -- The old neighborhood -- Phantom gold -- Marriage for one -- Fulfilment -- The victor -- The shadow -- The "mercy" of God -- The prince who was a thief.
Credits
Bob Taylor, Aaron Adrignola and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 77.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
