Chapter II: Theodore Dreiser (3)

Sister Carrie | Jennie Gerhardt | | The Financier | | | The Titan | | | | A Traveler at Forty | | | | | The "Genius" | | | | | | Plays of the Natural | | | | | | | A Hoosier Holiday | | | | | | | | New York X - - X X X X X Boston - - - - X - X - Chicago X X X X X X X X Philadelphia X X X X X X X X Washington - - - - X - X - Baltimore - - - - X - - - Pittsburgh - - X X X X - X New Orleans - - - - - - - - Denver X X X X X X X X San Francisco X X X X X - - X St. Louis X X X X X - X - Cleveland X X X X - X X - Providence - - - - - - - - Los Angeles X X X X X X X X Indianapolis X X X - X - X X Louisville X X - X X X X X St. Paul X X - - X - X X Minneapolis X X X - X - X - Cincinnati X X X - X - X X Kansas City X X X X X X X X Milwaukee - - - - X - X X Newark X X X X X X X X Detroit X X X - X X X X Seattle X X - - X - X X Hartford - - - - - - - X

This table shows that but two libraries, those of Providence and New Orleans, bar Dreiser altogether. The effect of alarms from newspaper reviewers is indicated by the scant distribution of The "Genius," which is barred by 14 of the 25. It should be noted that some of these libraries issue certain of the books only under restrictions. This I know to be the case in Louisville, Los Angeles, Newark and Cleveland. The Newark librarian informs me that Jennie Gerhardt is to be removed altogether, presumably in response to some protest from local Comstocks. In Chicago The "Genius" has been stolen, and on account of the withdrawal of the book the Public Library has been unable to get another copy.

[29] The _North American Review_, Feb., 1916.

[30] Another competent valuation, by Randolph Bourne, is in _The Dial_, June 14, 1917.