The Genius
by Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser invested in Genius, an autobiographical novel first published in 1915. Fully immersed in the art scene of the end of the century, The Genius explores the myriad conflicts between art and business, art and marriage, and traditional and contemporary views of sexual morality. Despite heavy regulation, The Genius was found so shocking that its sale was immediately banned by the New York Vice Suppression Association. It was not published until 1923, after which the episode confirmed Dreiser's status as a writer ahead of his time.
