The Bostonians vs The "genius": Which Should You Read?

The Bostonians Henry James · 1885 ★★★★☆ 3.6 696 pages · ≈ 12 h 53 m · Demanding

First published in 1886, The Bostonians is one of James' wittiest social satires. It begins with the arrival in Boston of Basil Ransom, in search of a career. The book turns on the relationship between Ransom, a…

The "genius" Theodore Dreiser · 1915 ★★★★☆ 4.2 802 pages · ≈ 14 h 51 m · Demanding

Dreiser's semi-autobiographical novel about a young man's unhappy marriage, adulterous relationships, and struggle to retain his artistic integrity.