McTeague

Set in San Francisco, the story follows the life of McTeague, a dentist who becomes embroiled in a tumultuous relationship with Trina Sieppe, a woman whose fortune leads to greed and betrayal. As McTeague's life spirals into violence and despair, the novel explores themes of social Darwinism, the struggle for survival, and the darker aspects of human nature. Norris's vivid portrayal of the characters and their moral decline offers a critical examination of American society at the turn of the 20th century.