Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
I want to read the book!
All characters reduced
The Octopus - A Story of California - cover

The Octopus - A Story of California

Frank Norris

Publisher: Good Press

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

In Frank Norris's monumental novel, "The Octopus: A Story of California," published in 1901, the author weaves a compelling narrative that explores the tumultuous relationship between agriculture, capitalism, and the environment in late 19th-century California. Norris employs a naturalistic style, marked by vivid imagery and gripping characterizations, to illustrate the struggles of wheat farmers against the exploitative forces of the railroad industry. This work is part of Norris's broader vision of a trilogy depicting the socio-economic forces shaping the American landscape, particularly the intersection of man and his environment, and the predatory nature of industrial capitalism, echoing the themes prevalent in the realist movements of his time. Frank Norris, a pivotal figure in American literary naturalism, was deeply influenced by the economic philosophies of his era, as well as the stark realities faced by farmers and laborers in California. Growing up in a world marked by the rapid expansion of the railroads and the resulting socio-economic disparities, Norris's experiences informed his portrayal of the intense conflict within the novel, embodying both the struggle for survival and the aspiration for justice within a capitalist society. "The Octopus" is an essential read for anyone interested in the evolution of American literature and the social issues of its time. Norris's insightful exploration of power dynamics, coupled with his potent narrative style, invites readers to reflect on the complexities of progress and the human condition, making this work both timely and timeless.
Available since: 11/21/2019.
Print length: 494 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Odour of Chrysanthemums - cover

    Odour of Chrysanthemums

    D. H. Lawrence

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    'Was this what it all meant - utter, intact separateness, obscured by heat of living?' 
In Odour of Chrysanthemums D.H. Lawrence explores the concept of human isolation and the nature of love and relationships. This is the story of Elizabeth, a young wife and mother waiting for her alcoholic husband to return home from what she assumes is another night of drinking…
    Show book
  • Lady Chatterley's Lover - cover

    Lady Chatterley's Lover

    D. H. Lawrence

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    The last and most famous of D. H. Lawrence's novels, Lady Chatterley's Lover was published in 1928 and banned in England and the United States as pornographic. While sexually tame by today's standards, the book is memorable for better reasons—Lawrence's masterful and lyrical prose, and a vibrant story that takes us bodily into the world of its characters. 
 
As the novel opens, Constance Chatterley finds herself trapped in an unfulfilling marriage to a rich aristocrat whose war wounds have left him paralyzed and impotent. After a brief but unsatisfying affair with a playwright, Lady Chatterley enjoys an extremely passionate relationship with the gamekeeper on the family estate, Oliver Mellors. As Lady Chatterley falls in love and conceives a child with Mellors, she moves from the heartless, bloodless world of the intelligentsia and aristocracy into a vital and profound connection rooted in sexual fulfillment. 
 
Through this novel, Lawrence attempted to revive in the human consciousness an awareness of savage sensuality, a sensuality with the power to free men and women from the enslaving sterility of modern technology and intellectualism. Perhaps even more relevant today than when it first appeared, Lady Chatterley's Lover is a triumph of passion and an erotic celebration of life.
    Show book
  • Dracula Audiobook - cover

    Dracula Audiobook

    Bram Stoker, Classic Audiobooks,...

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Dive into the chilling world of gothic horror with Dracula, Bram Stoker's timeless masterpiece. First published in 1897, this epistolary novel takes readers on a journey through diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings, weaving a suspenseful tale of fear, love, and the supernatural.The story follows Jonathan Harker, a young solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to assist Count Dracula with a property purchase in England. What begins as a professional visit quickly unravels into a nightmarish ordeal as Harker discovers the Count's sinister secret: he is a vampire. Dracula's move to England sets off a desperate battle between good and evil, as Harker, his fiancée Mina, and their allies, led by the enigmatic Professor Van Helsing, strive to stop the vampire's reign of terror.A masterpiece of atmosphere and psychological tension, Dracula explores themes of power, sexuality, and the clash between science and superstition. With its unforgettable characters and haunting imagery, this novel has left an indelible mark on literature and popular culture, defining the vampire mythos for generations.
    Show book
  • Go-Getter The: A Story That Tells You How to Be One - Also includes Elbert Hubbard's "A Message to Garcia" - cover

    Go-Getter The: A Story That...

    Peter B. Kyne

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Also includes the Bonus Book A Message to Garcia by Elbert HubbardA classic parable of ambition and entrepreneurial spirit that has imparted key lessons in success to generations of readers.First published in 1921, Peter B. Kyne’s The Go-Getter: A Story That Tells You How to Be One is a humorous parable of determination and ambition that has proved itself to be a timeless classic, inspiring readers to approach their goals—whether personal or professional—with tenacity and dedication.  The Go-Getter tells the story of Bill Clegg, an ambitious young salesman, who is set on a seemingly impossible task when his boss, a crusty old-timer named Cappy Riggs, decides to test his mettle. Charismatic and incredibly determined, Bill charmed his way into Riggs’s employment and is resolved to meet his boss’s expectations—no matter what may ensue. Along the way, Clegg develops and demonstrates the critical values of drive, determination, honesty, and integrity. With delightfully old-fashioned prose and a modern message of drive and determination, The Go-Getter is a truly timeless illustration of the perseverance and resolve that are required to fuel true ambition.A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Essentials
    Show book
  • The Nonexistent Knight - cover

    The Nonexistent Knight

    Italo Calvino

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    An empty suit of armor is the hero in this witty novella, a picaresque gem-now available in an independent volume for the first time-that brilliantly parodies medieval knighthood. Set in the time of Charlemagne and narrated by a nun with her own secrets to keep, The Nonexistent Knight tells the story of Agilulf, a gleaming white suit of armor with nothing inside it. A challenge to his honor sends Agilulf on a search through France, England, and North Africa to confirm the chastity of a virgin he saved from rape years earlier. In the end, after many surprising turns of plot, a closing confession draws this sparkling novella to a perfect finish.
    Show book
  • Jewel of Seven Stars The (Unabridged) - cover

    Jewel of Seven Stars The...

    Bram Stoker

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    The Jewel of Seven Stars is a horror novel by Irish writer Bram Stoker, first published by Heinemann in 1903. The story is a first-person narrative of a young man pulled into an archaeologist's plot to revive Queen Tera, an ancient Egyptian mummy. It explores common fin de siècle themes such as imperialism, the rise of the New Woman and feminism, and societal progress.
    Show book