In the words of literary historian Larzer Ziff, The only figure of literary repute who ever rated The Genius as first among the novels of Theodore Dreiser was Theodore Dreiser. This poignant work, Dreisers fifth published novel, is his most autobiographical and remains the one he cherished the most. Crafted over four years, it reflects his struggle for recognition amidst controversy. Despite its rich exploration of sexual urges and complicated relationships, Dreiser felt the book never received the acclaim it deserved due to his original publishers reluctance to support it against criticism. At over 700 pages, it stands as his longest novel after An American Tragedy. The protagonist, Eugene Witla, mirrors Dreiser himself, while also drawing inspiration from the Ashcan realist artists he mingled with in New York, particularly the promiscuous Everett Shinn. The narrative is divided into three compelling sections Youth, Struggle, and Revolt. In Book I, Eugene escapes his small-town Illinois roots for the vibrant world of Chicago, where he studies painting and navigates the complexities of love and fidelity with his fiancée, Angela Blue. Book II sees them move to New York, where Eugenes burgeoning career clashes with his increasingly conventional marriage, leading to personal turmoil. Finally, Book III delves into the unraveling of their relationship as Eugene embarks on an affair with Suzanne Dale, capturing the essence of human desire and the quest for artistic authenticity.
Genius
Claim This Podcastby Theodore Dreiser
Podcast Overview
In the words of literary historian Larzer Ziff, The only figure of literary repute who ever rated The Genius as first among the novels of Theodore Dreiser was Theodore Dreiser. This poignant work, Dreisers fifth published novel, is his most autobiographical and remains the one he cherished the most. Crafted over four years, it reflects his struggle for recognition amidst controversy. Despite its rich exploration of sexual urges and complicated relationships, Dreiser felt the book never received the acclaim it deserved due to his original publishers reluctance to support it against criticism. At over 700 pages, it stands as his longest novel after An American Tragedy. The protagonist, Eugene Witla, mirrors Dreiser himself, while also drawing inspiration from the Ashcan realist artists he mingled with in New York, particularly the promiscuous Everett Shinn. The narrative is divided into three compelling sections Youth, Struggle, and Revolt. In Book I, Eugene escapes his small-town Illinois roots for the vibrant world of Chicago, where he studies painting and navigates the complexities of love and fidelity with his fiancée, Angela Blue. Book II sees them move to New York, where Eugenes burgeoning career clashes with his increasingly conventional marriage, leading to personal turmoil. Finally, Book III delves into the unraveling of their relationship as Eugene embarks on an affair with Suzanne Dale, capturing the essence of human desire and the quest for artistic authenticity.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/6/2026
1 verified contact email on file for Genius
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
April 17, 2026
103 - L'envoi
In the words of literary historian Larzer Ziff, The only figure of literary repute who ever rated The Genius as first among the novels of Theodore Dreiser was Theodore Dreiser. This poignant work, Dreisers fifth published novel, is his most autobiographical and remains the one he cherished the most. Crafted over four years, it reflects his struggle for recognition amidst controversy. Despite its rich exploration of sexual urges and complicated relationships, Dreiser felt the book never received the acclaim it deserved due to his original publishers reluctance to support it against criticism. At over 700 pages, it stands as his longest novel after An American Tragedy. The protagonist, Eugene Witla, mirrors Dreiser himself, while also drawing inspiration from the Ashcan realist artists he mingled with in New York, particularly the promiscuous Everett Shinn. The narrative is divided into three compelling sections Youth, Struggle, and Revolt. In Book I, Eugene escapes his small-town Illinois roots for the vibrant world of Chicago, where he studies painting and navigates the complexities of love and fidelity with his fiancée, Angela Blue. Book II sees them move to New York, where Eugenes burgeoning career clashes with his increasingly conventional marriage, leading to personal turmoil. Finally, Book III delves into the unraveling of their relationship as Eugene embarks on an affair with Suzanne Dale, capturing the essence of human desire and the quest for artistic authenticity.
April 16, 2026
102 - Book 3 - Revolt - Chapter 29
In the words of literary historian Larzer Ziff, The only figure of literary repute who ever rated The Genius as first among the novels of Theodore Dreiser was Theodore Dreiser. This poignant work, Dreisers fifth published novel, is his most autobiographical and remains the one he cherished the most. Crafted over four years, it reflects his struggle for recognition amidst controversy. Despite its rich exploration of sexual urges and complicated relationships, Dreiser felt the book never received the acclaim it deserved due to his original publishers reluctance to support it against criticism. At over 700 pages, it stands as his longest novel after An American Tragedy. The protagonist, Eugene Witla, mirrors Dreiser himself, while also drawing inspiration from the Ashcan realist artists he mingled with in New York, particularly the promiscuous Everett Shinn. The narrative is divided into three compelling sections Youth, Struggle, and Revolt. In Book I, Eugene escapes his small-town Illinois roots for the vibrant world of Chicago, where he studies painting and navigates the complexities of love and fidelity with his fiancée, Angela Blue. Book II sees them move to New York, where Eugenes burgeoning career clashes with his increasingly conventional marriage, leading to personal turmoil. Finally, Book III delves into the unraveling of their relationship as Eugene embarks on an affair with Suzanne Dale, capturing the essence of human desire and the quest for artistic authenticity.
April 15, 2026
101 - Book 3 - Revolt - Chapter 28
In the words of literary historian Larzer Ziff, The only figure of literary repute who ever rated The Genius as first among the novels of Theodore Dreiser was Theodore Dreiser. This poignant work, Dreisers fifth published novel, is his most autobiographical and remains the one he cherished the most. Crafted over four years, it reflects his struggle for recognition amidst controversy. Despite its rich exploration of sexual urges and complicated relationships, Dreiser felt the book never received the acclaim it deserved due to his original publishers reluctance to support it against criticism. At over 700 pages, it stands as his longest novel after An American Tragedy. The protagonist, Eugene Witla, mirrors Dreiser himself, while also drawing inspiration from the Ashcan realist artists he mingled with in New York, particularly the promiscuous Everett Shinn. The narrative is divided into three compelling sections Youth, Struggle, and Revolt. In Book I, Eugene escapes his small-town Illinois roots for the vibrant world of Chicago, where he studies painting and navigates the complexities of love and fidelity with his fiancée, Angela Blue. Book II sees them move to New York, where Eugenes burgeoning career clashes with his increasingly conventional marriage, leading to personal turmoil. Finally, Book III delves into the unraveling of their relationship as Eugene embarks on an affair with Suzanne Dale, capturing the essence of human desire and the quest for artistic authenticity.
103 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Genius
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Genius?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.