The Financier is the first book in Dreiser's epic 'Trilogy of Desire', based upon the life of Chicago streetcar tycoon Charles Tyson Yerkes. Lead character Frank Cowperwood serves as a conduit for Dreiser's naturalist leanings, as he cajoles, swindles, and double-deals his way to success - only to have the same done to him in kind - in a raw, amoral battle of wits and cunning for wealth, women, and power. True to form, Dreiser pulled no punches in writing this semi-biographic work - a trait that often garnered negative attention from the censors of his day. This edition - while more costly than others available - is presented in a standard font size, has been completely re-laid in a modern form, and offers a page count that accommodates the original work without sacrificing readability.