So Big

In this Pulitzer Prize—winning novel, Edna Ferber recounts the transformation of a gambler's daughter into a spirited teacher, hardworking farmer's wife, and devoted mother. Throughout her struggles to maintain her home and dignity, So Big's heroine prevails thanks to her resilience and her well-developed sense of aesthetics. Ferber faithfully captures middle-class life in the Midwest during the 1920s and '30s. Her observations of class struggles and gender inequality on the Illinois prairie are complemented by her lyrical explorations of timeless values: finding beauty in nature, remaining optimistic, and being true to yourself.