Review “It has the completeness, and finality, that grips and exalts and convinces. . . . So Big is a masterpiece.” (Literary Review)“A thoughtful book, clean and strong, dramatic at times, interesting always, clear-sighted, sympathetic, a novel to read and to remember.” (New York Times)“[A] standout.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)“Recommended reading for our times.” (Washington Post)“Her books were . . . vivid and had a sound sociological basis. She was among the best-read novelists in the nation, and critics of the 1920s and 1930s did not hesitate to call her the greatest American woman novelist of her day.” (New York Times)“Edna Ferber could spin a tale.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)“For sheer readability few writers can equal Edna Ferber. She writes so smoothly and brightly, with so much gusto, with so wideawake a style and so clever a selection of detail that she routs all that is common-place and casts out all that is dull.” (New York Times)“There can be no question that So Big gets close to the life of its chosen bit of American soil, or that it is persuasively human in its touch.” (Springfield Republican) Read more From the Back Cover The Pulitzer Prize–winning masterwork from one of the twentieth century’s most accomplished and admired writers, Edna Ferber’s So Big is the unforgettable story of one woman’s struggle to stay afloat and maintain her dignity in the face of monumental challenges.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.A powerful story and stirring portrait of one of the most memorable women in American literature, So Big still resonates today with its unflinching views of poverty, sexism, and the drive for success. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
S**E
FERBER'S PRIZE WINNER STILL INTRIGUES
“So Big” is Edna Ferber’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, originally published in 1924, that exemplifies Ferber’s love of working people and of chronicling her heroines as assertive, bold, and prosperous. She never forgot the anti-Semitism she suffered as a young girl, was proud of her heritage, and was somewhat aloof in her adult life. She used vanity and self-reliance in her stories that she personally adopted as a shield against the hurt and anger she felt in her early life.Selena Peake De Jong is a young woman who makes the decision to be a teacher in the farming country near Chicago. At first she resides on the Pool family farm where she encourages the son, Roelf, to follow his love of art. She marries a Dutch farmer, Pervus De Jong, moves to his farm, and endures his stolid, plodding demeanor as he struggles to make a living in his hardscrabble dirt, producing barely saleable crops. When Pervis dies, Selena becomes the force of the family farm, developing it into a successful and prosperous enterprise. Their son, Dirk, nicknamed “So Big,” from the oft-quoted question about “how big is baby?” becomes more interested in making money than pursuing his real interest of architecture as the years progress, and eventually becomes saddened that he abandons his artistic leanings.As is characteristic of a Ferber novel, many interesting and well-developed characters are portrayed including Dallas O’Mara, a successful painter; Roelf, who becomes a famous sculptor; and Julie, the wealthy daughter who is married to an older man but adores Dirk. “So Big” has been characterized as a “lumpy pillow of a novel, misshapen but cozy.” It is not profound but has great sociological meaning with an honest ending. Ferber’s aim of describing the essentials of human behavior peculiar to particular locations is well established here.I enjoyed the return to Ferber in this rereading. Her imagination and ability to portray emotional and sensory experiences make for a highly entertaining read.Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES
T**E
Can't figure out why I like it so much
I'm hard-pressed to explain why I like this book, but I do. My wife, whose taste usually overlaps with mine, didn't finish it. It's not an especially happy story, but it gives us a view into a particular era and people, and the characters, while never really sympathetic, are interesting. You--or at least I--want to see something of how it all comes out.There's likely some homily in it about parenting, but despite having Opinions on that subject, and having been through it with my own kids, I'm not at all sure what it is. There doesn't seem to be a lot of correlation between what people's parents (tried to) teach them and how they ended up in life. Maybe it's supposed to be saying that it's all about "talent" or something like that, which we now know to be a very limited and misleading view of success.So I dunno. I enjoyed this book a lot. I really don't know why. YMMV. Give it a shot!
J**D
I love this book, one of my all time favorites.
This is one of my all time favorites. Over 20 years ago I found a hard copy of this wonderful book at a yard sale. I have reread it almost yearly ever since. Ms. Ferber was gifted with this story line. I tried Giant and a couple of her other books but they did not have the feel this one does. I don't even have copies of them. This book has traveled all over the country with me. It is one of the chosen few I will not part with.
E**R
Just the right amount of sugar
I opened this novel not sure what to expect. Edna Ferber was an extremely popular writer in her day, and I've found that many of the bestsellers in the 1920s are overly sentimental and not very deep.But while So Big had degree of these qualities, it was also a really great read. The characters are developed well and after a slightly slow beginning, the action flows at a fast pace.In addition, the novel does a wonderful job at describing Chicago in the early part of the 20th century along with smart, witty depictions of the society people who lived there. But my favorite aspect of the book was its protagonist. Selina is so full of joyful optimism and her love of beauty is so deep that "life has no weapons against a woman like that." She perseveres in spite of horrible setbacks, and even though the book is a little corny, it's impossible not to be inspired by it anyway.
M**G
Ferber does not diminsh with time
I confess, this is the first book of Edna Ferber's that I have read, surprising since I am a native midwesterner, and lived in Chicago for over 15 years. I do seem to recall seeing, in my mother's book case as a child, a copy of one of her books, maybe Giant. I am not sure what prompted me to read this book, but I am glad I did. What surprised me really was the wonderful writing, and the timelessness of the story and it's theme. It holds up well, even today. The protagonist of the story, Serena, is independent and ahead of her time, but with a great appreciation of the every day beauty she finds everywhere in the world. While Serena tries to instill this sense of wonder in her son, he is caught up in the quest for money and prestige, and loses himself in the quest for the American dream. The theme that "Success" is more one of staying true to your dreams and values, is something that still rings thru today. The characters are well drawn and complex in many ways. I also quite enjoyed the historical era, and the references to parts of Chicago I have visited. It is well worth a read. Highly recommended.
X**S
A thoroughly Ferber, and thoroughly American, Classic!
One of Edna Ferber’s great books. Not as towering a story as her ‘Giant’ but still worth reading. When I was I high school I spent more time hunting for the Cliff Notes versions of great American and British literature than I did actually reading any of these novels. Now it seems like there are too many of them to catch up with than there is time left! BTW Barbara Stanwyck starred in a terrific Hollywood production of So Big that was a stunning and faithful followup to Ferber’s book.
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