The Financier
- First published
- 1912
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Financier: A Novel" by Theodore Dreiser is a novel published in 1912. Based on real-life streetcar tycoon Charles Yerkes, it follows Frank Cowperwood's rise in Philadelphia's financial world. Starting with a profitable soap deal as a young man, Cowperwood climbs to wealth through investment and manipulation of municipal funds. When the Great Chicago Fire triggers a stock market crash in 1871, his corrupt dealings are exposed. As politicians use him as a scapegoat, Cowperwood faces bankruptcy and imprisonment while conducting an affair with his business partner's daughter.
- Psychological fiction
- Capitalists and financiers
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #1840. The Financier on Wikipedia.
