Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
"A masterpiece." — Literary Review • "A novel to read and to remember." —New York Times
Widely regarded as the masterwork of celebrated author and Algonquin Round Table mainstay Edna Ferber—who also penned other classics including Show Boat, Giant, Ice Palace, Saratoga Trunk, and Cimarron—So Big is a powerful and stirring portrait of one of the most memorable women in American literature, and still resonates today with its unflinching views of poverty, sexism, and the drive for success.
Set in Chicago at the turn of the twentieth century, So Big tells the story of Selina Peake, orphaned at nineteen after her father is shot and killed in a gambling house. Alone and resolved to make something of her life, Selina gets a job as a schoolteacher in a farming community outside Chicago and falls in love with a kind but struggling farmer. She soon leaves the schoolhouse for long grueling days in the fields and gives birth to a son, Dirk, nicknamed “So Big.” When she finds herself unexpectedly widowed, she takes the reins of the farm, defying convention and all those around her, determined to give Dirk every opportunity to follow his dreams.
So Big is a must-read for fans of contemporary novelists such Willa Cather (O Pioneers!), Pearl S. Buck (The Good Earth), and Marjorie Rawlings (The Yearling).
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“The incomparable Cassandra Campbell expertly wields the microphone in her performance of this quiet classic. Campbell’s gentle delivery exudes empathy and confidence as she animates the life of Selina Peake DeJong, a woman with multifaceted experiences and an independent streak. Campbell’s performance gives this early-twentieth-century novel a contemporary sensibility that is largely enjoyable to hear. As the story progresses, Campbell navigates the complex and timeless themes related to life and its shifting values with grace and skill, following each character’s struggles steadily. While there are narrative moments that move exceedingly slowly, Campbell’s vocal consistency keeps the listener present.”
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