Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and widely considered to be Edna Ferber's greatest achievement, So Big is a classic novel of turn-of-the-century Chicago.
So Big is the unforgettable story of the indomitable Selina Peake DeJong and her struggles to stay afloat and maintain her dignity in the face of a challenging marriage, widowhood, and single parenthood.
Left an orphan at nineteen years old in the late 1880s, Selina Peake needs to support herself. She becomes a teacher in the farming community of High Prairie, Illinois, and soon marries Pervus DeJong, a farmer. After Pervus's death, Selina takes over their struggling farm and raises their son, Dirk. Despite their hardships, she retains a deep appreciation for art and beauty and does her best to instill these values in Dirk, but will he recognize his mother's wisdom before he loses a chance at love?
First published in 1924, So Big is a brilliant literary masterwork from one of the twentieth century's most accomplished and admired writers, and still resonates today with its unflinching views of poverty, sexism, and the drive for success.