The Financier

Rating:
Summary: "I Satisfy Myself..."
Review: Ah, Theodore Dreiser... Even though I don't really enjoy reading him at times, I can't stay away. This is the third Dreiser book I've read (The other two: The Titan, and Sister Carrie). I would certainly recommend Sister Carrie over The Financier, but I would recommend this book over its succesor, The Titan.

The Financier is the by now familiar tale of the rise/fall/rise of an aspiring financial tycoon. The only difference between Frank Cowperwood (protagonist of The Financier) and the Gordon Gecko of 80's "Wall Street" fame, is that Cowperwood is working in the 1860's , not the 1980's and he lives in Philly, not NYC.

Cowperwood is the son of a bank vice president. He posseses a preternatural gift for finance and an, ahem, well developed, sense of self interest. Cowperwood is the sort of Spencerian/ Darwinian/Nietchzian "super man" that is as common in early twentieth century American fiction as the self obsessed yuppie has become in early twenty first century American television.

Cowperwood's catch phrase during this book is "I satisfy myself." Personally, I found that phrase a tad redolent of omanism, if you know what I mean, but I'm sure Dreiser had the purest of intentions at the time.

The plot of the book concerns machinations involving Cowperwood and his handling of city bonds. I know, it sounds dry. Well, it is dry, and boring, especially for the first hundred and fifty pages, where Dresier seems intent on teaching the readers all about the operation of financial markets in Philly in the 1860's.

The story picks up when a fire hits Chicago, and Cowperwood's shenanigans are detected. Cowperwood is then tried, convicted and sent to prison. It's a good time. Makes for fun reading.

Of almost equal importance is Cowperwood's penchant for the illicit affair. His courtship of Aileen Butler, the daughter of one of his patrons, absorbs a good forty percent of the book. In "The Titan", Butler becomes his wife when they move to Chicago.
Overall, I'd say the book is worth checking out if only for Dreiser's reportage. You can practically taste the 1860's. Also notable is his expert discussion of financial markets in that period, and I might add, his lovely descrption of conditions at the Eastern Pentitentiary.

Check it out.

If you like this book, you might also want to check out the Titan, Sister Carrie, Frank Norris's "The Pit" and that same author's "The Octopus", for similarly themed work.

Rating:
Summary: "I Satisfy Myself..."
Review: Ah, Theodore Dreiser... Even though I don't really enjoy reading him at times, I can't stay away. This is the third Dreiser book I've read (The other two: The Titan, and Sister Carrie). I would certainly recommend Sister Carrie over The Financier, but I would recommend this book over its succesor, The Titan.

The Financier is the by now familiar tale of the rise/fall/rise of an aspiring financial tycoon. The only difference between Frank Cowperwood (protagonist of The Financier) and the Gordon Gecko of 80's "Wall Street" fame, is that Cowperwood is working in the 1860's , not the 1980's and he lives in Philly, not NYC.

Cowperwood is the son of a bank vice president. He posseses a preternatural gift for finance and an, ahem, well developed, sense of self interest. Cowperwood is the sort of Spencerian/ Darwinian/Nietchzian "super man" that is as common in early twentieth century American fiction as the self obsessed yuppie has become in early twenty first century American television.

Cowperwood's catch phrase during this book is "I satisfy myself." Personally, I found that phrase a tad redolent of omanism, if you know what I mean, but I'm sure Dreiser had the purest of intentions at the time.

The plot of the book concerns machinations involving Cowperwood and his handling of city bonds. I know, it sounds dry. Well, it is dry, and boring, especially for the first hundred and fifty pages, where Dresier seems intent on teaching the readers all about the operation of financial markets in Philly in the 1860's.

The story picks up when a fire hits Chicago, and Cowperwood's shenanigans are detected. Cowperwood is then tried, convicted and sent to prison. It's a good time. Makes for fun reading.

Of almost equal importance is Cowperwood's penchant for the illicit affair. His courtship of Aileen Butler, the daughter of one of his patrons, absorbs a good forty percent of the book. In "The Titan", Butler becomes his wife when they move to Chicago.
Overall, I'd say the book is worth checking out if only for Dreiser's reportage. You can practically taste the 1860's. Also notable is his expert discussion of financial markets in that period, and I might add, his lovely descrption of conditions at the Eastern Pentitentiary.

Check it out.

If you like this book, you might also want to check out the Titan, Sister Carrie, Frank Norris's "The Pit" and that same author's "The Octopus", for similarly themed work.

Rating:
Summary: my thoughts about "The Financier"
Review: Every person has a talent, Frank Cowperwood had a talent to deal with finances. Theodore Dreiser's book Financier is deserving of a five-star rating, because it depicts the life of a fearless person with a strong spirit, great strength of will; a person who can bring his dreams into reality. Dreiser narrates about Frank's success and failures during his life. In my opinion, many people would like to be more like Frank Cowperwood. The author reveals all aspects of reality of financial world in 1800s through four stages of the life of the protagonist of his novel: childhood and adolescence, the beginning of his independent career, success, and bankruptcy.

Frank Cowperwood was born in the middle class loving family. He was interested in finances from his childhood and was always surrounded by people who dealt with money. His father was an example for Frank Cowperwood, who was a born financier, and started to develop his talent from the early age. After he left school at seventeen with the help from his uncle he worked in a few companies and showed himself as a valuable employee. His bosses offered him the best terms to work in. But he preferred to start his own business. In this stage of his life he got married and had two precious babies.

He tried to surround himself by people who were influential in business world. Frank was trying to involve as many people as he could who was possible to put the money into the business. From the beginning he knew that everything is going to be his way, because he was sure in himself and worked for it really hard. Sometimes Frank went to his father for the advice. His father was the only person he could trust and tell everything about his plans. From this stage he began his independent career. Frank met new people who opened a big path in the financial world and then he began a new life of success and triumph.

Frank Cowperwood became one of the influential people in the United States. Many businessmen asked his opinion and advise on variety of financial topics. He was very knowledgeable in all financial operations, besides his intuition helped him to find a way to success and profit. Frank Cowperwood had unlimited loans in all banks, as he was a valuable and trustworthy customer for them. The success of his business helped him to buy a new house for him and his parents. Frank Cowperwood achieved his goal to have a lot of money. But he needed those money not just for having them, he used money to satisfy his desires and desires of his close people.

Unfortunately, the life of Frank Cowperwood was not a smooth and easy at all times. Due to the fire in Chicago in 1871 his business had to cope with a lot of problems. After publication of the article in the newspaper about the disaster in Windy city people did not feel safe. Other businessmen who had dealt with Frank Cowperwood requested that he returned their money right away. He tried to use different ways to protect his company from bankruptcy and stay in business. But he was not able to succeed. He had to face a bankruptcy and experienced all aspects of that crisis. Creditors took his house and all valuables, he was thrown in the jail as he was accused in stealing money. Financier was able to cope with this misfortune, he did not lose his hope for the better. Frank Cowperwood moved to Chicago where he was able to start a new life of success and fortune.

I was astonished by this book as the author illustrated a person who was ready to face all storms of life in strong spirit and hope for happy future. Dreiser was able to give a vivid picture of powerful business and people who were able to succeed in it and those who failed. Dreiser showed a reader that every human can achieve his/her goal if a person can find his talent and develop it in the right channel.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent choice
Review: I have read this book twice, the first time in Russian the second time in English with 5 years and one BS in between however my opinion of the book remained the same, "This is beyond a doubt one of the best books that have ever been written". P.S. Don't tell anyone tell you otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating exploration of wealth, power and back-stabbing
Review: I must point out that Mr. Dreiser is one of my favorite authors. Sister Carrie, Jeanne Gerhardt (sp?) and An American Tragedy are the finest books on American society in the same manner that Anthony Trollope's works on Victorian England are the finest of their ilk.

The Financier takes the reader to Philadelphia just prior to and around the time of the civil war. Mr. Cowperwood starts small,dreams bigger and free-falls gigantically. The power plays and court trial are fascinating studies of human nature and a treatise on Dreiser's nature -vs- nurture views.

But far deeper in the story lies the its heart- Coperwood's love for one of his financial partner's daughters. The lengths they go to keep the relationship going matched with the lenghts her father goes to stop it (she is much younger and he is married) is a fine a redition of love against the odds as you'll read.

Its amazing how a sophmoric book like "Martin Dressler" can win a Pulitzer Prize while the journalistic genius of Mr. Dreiser remains on the fringes of mainstream of American Literature.

Rating:
Summary: Dreiser-A Master of the American Condition
Review: The Financier says as much about the importance of the conjugal nuclear family (the Butlers and the Cowperwoods) and its struggle to put up just the right airs, as it does about America's love for building up its giants, tearing them down and rebuilding them. Through Frank Cowperwood's financial acumen and sheer grit, he raises his family's (father's) humble beginnings onto Philadelphia's loftier social fabric. But the railroads and city treasurer shennanigans are only part of his story. Determination, focus and most of all hubris make Cowperwood one part angel, three parts beast: providing the finer things for his parents and immediate family but sentencing his wife, Lillian, to a life replete with rumors, a city's preoccupation with his mistress and love compromised.

It is astonishing how many figures from recent headlines--Donald Trump, Michael Milkin, Bill Clinton and even Michael Jackson--come to mind by The Financier's end. More than a century later, Dreiser's commentary rings hauntingly true.

Rating:
Summary: Not for everybody
Review: This book is not for everybody. If you have an above average IQ and executive ability to read between lines, you will learn a lot. About REAL dynamics of society, about world of high-profile players and politicians... the truth is striking. And most important of all - little (if anything) has changed since this book was written.