Jennie Gerhardt

Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser (August 27 1871 - December 28 1945) was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school. His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives despite a lack of a firm moral code and literary situations that more closely resemble studies of nature than tales of choice and agency.Jennie Gerhardt is a 1911 novel by Theodore Dreiser. Jennie Gerhardt is a destitute young woman. While working in a hotel in Columbus Ohio Jennie meets Senator George Brander who becomes infatuated with her. He helps her family and declares his wish to marry her. Jennie grateful for his benevolence agrees to sleep with him but ill fortune intercedes and the Senator dies leaving her pregnant. She gives birth to a daughter Vesta and moves to Cleveland where she finds work as a lady's maid to a prominent family. Consequently she meets Lester Kane a prosperous manufacturer's son. Jennie falls in love with him impressed by his strong will and generosity. She leaves her daughter behind and they visit New York together. Kane unaware that Jennie has a child wishes to marry her but anticipating his family's disapproval decides instead that she shall become his mistress. They live together successfully in Chicago even through Jennie's revelation after three years that Vesta is her daughter. Kane does not yield to his family's pressure to leave Jennie but after his father's death discovers that he will not inherit a substantial part of the family business unless he discards her. They visit Europe together where Kane's attention shifts from Jennie to a woman of his own class Letty Gerald. On hearing the will's terms it is Jennie who demands that they separate. Kane after providing for her marries Letty and resumes his former social status. Jennie loses her daughter to typhoid and adopts two orphans but through it all continues to love him. Kane becomes ill. He tells Jennie he still loves her and she tends him until his death mourning secretly at his funeral. (wikipedia.org)