<영어로 읽는 고전 _ 시어도어 드라이저의 천재>
"천재"는 1915년에 처음 출판된 테오도르 드라이저(Theodore Dreiser)의 소설이다. 이 소설은 빈곤, 사회적 기대, 내면의 악마와 싸우면서 세상에서 자신의 자리를 찾기 위해 고군분투하는 재능 있는 예술가 유진 위틀라(Eugene Witla)의 이야기를 담고 있다.
19세기 말과 20세기 초 미국을 배경으로 한 이 소설은 중서부에서의 소박한 시작부터 뉴욕시의 활기 넘치는 예술계에서 성공적인 예술가로 자리매김하려는 시도까지 유진의 여정을 다루고 있다. 그 과정에서 유진은 사랑과 관계의 복잡성, 예술적 우수성 추구, 삶의 가혹한 현실과 씨름하기도 한다.
"The Genius"는 종종 Dreiser의 가장 자서전적인 작품 중 하나로 간주되며, 고군분투하는 작가이자 예술가로서의 자신의 경험이 바탕이 되었다. 소설은 예술적 천재의 본질, 예술적 야망과 사회적 규범의 충돌, 경쟁이 치열한 세상에서 성공의 대가와 같은 주제를 이야기하고 있다.


"Genius" is a novel by Theodore Dreiser, first published in 1915. The novel tells the story of Eugene Witla, a talented artist struggling to find his place in the world while battling poverty, social expectations, and inner demons.
Set in late 19th and early 20th century America, the novel follows Eugene's journey from his humble beginnings in the Midwest to his attempts to establish himself as a successful artist in New York City's vibrant art scene. Along the way, Eugene wrestles with the complexities of love and relationships, the pursuit of artistic excellence, and the harsh realities of life.
"The Genius" is often considered one of Dreiser's most autobiographical works, and was based on his own experiences as a struggling writer and artist. The novel addresses topics such as the nature of artistic genius, the clash between artistic ambition and social norms, and the price of success in a highly competitive world.

Summary
"Eugene Witla, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour her, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
"I will."

This story has its beginnings in the town of Alexandria, Illinois, between 1884 and 1889, at the time when the place had a population of somewhere near ten thousand. There was about it just enough of the air of a city to relieve it of the sense of rural life. It had one street-car line, a theatre,?or rather, an opera house, so-called (why no one might say, for no opera was ever performed there)?two railroads, with their stations, and a business district, composed of four brisk sides to a public square. In the square were the county court-house and four newspapers. These two morning and two evening papers made the population fairly aware of the fact that life was full of issues, local and national, and that there were many interesting and varied things to do. On the edge of town, several lakes and a pretty stream?perhaps Alexandria's most pleasant feature?gave it an atmosphere not unakin to that of a moderate-priced summer resort. Architecturally the town was not new.

Contents
BOOK I. YOUTH
CHAPTER I. This story has its beginnings in the town of Alexandria
CHAPTER II. Some of the incidents of this courtship
CHAPTER III. Eugene grew more and more moody
CHAPTER IV. The city of Chicago_who shall portray it
CHAPTER V. For the time being this encounter stirred to
CHAPTER VI. Eugene collected and reported faithfully every day
CHAPTER VII. It was after he had decided to enter the art class
CHAPTER VIII. The rest of that evening Eugene spent not exactly with
CHAPTER IX. The succeeding days in the art school
CHAPTER X. Ruby Kenny was the adopted child of an old Irish
CHAPTER XI. A little while before
CHAPTER XII. From drawing from the nude
CHAPTER XIII. In two weeks Angela came back
CHAPTER XIV. Once this idea of New York was fixed in his mind
CHAPTER XV. Not knowing routes or directions in New York,
CHAPTER XVI. The art world of New York is peculiar
CHAPTER XVII. This one significant sale with its subsequent
CHAPTER XVIII. Toward noon old Jotham Blue came in from a cornfield
CHAPTER XIX. It would be hard to say in what respect
CHAPTER XX. Eugene carried home with him not only a curiously
CHAPTER XXI. But Miriam Finch's family
CHAPTER XXII. The chief trouble with his present situation
CHAPTER XXIII. Towards the end of spring Eugene concluded
CHAPTER XXIV. The days spent in the mountains were seventeen exactly
CHAPTER XXV. It is a rather dreary thing to come back into
CHAPTER XXVI. The beautiful June weather arrived
CHAPTER XXVII. The atmosphere of the house after this night seemed charged with
CHAPTER XXVIII. The studio of Messrs. Smite

BOOK II. THE STRUGGLE
CHAPTER I. The marriage ceremony between Eugene and Angela
CHAPTER II. After the quiet of a small town
CHAPTER III. Whatever were Eugene's secret thoughts
CHAPTER IV. The result of Angela's outburst was that
CHAPTER V. The hope of fame?what hours of speculation
CHAPTER VI. It was some little time before M. Charles
CHAPTER VII. The exhibition which followed in April
CHAPTER VIII. Paris now loomed bright in Eugene's imagination
CHAPTER IX. The summer passed
CHAPTER X. It was the beginning of a period destined to last
CHAPTER XI. It was in packing the trunks and leaving the studio
CHAPTER XII. Spring, summer and fall came and went
CHAPTER XIII. If it had not been for the lurking hope of some fresh
CHAPTER XIV. The opportunity for further meetings seemed to
CHAPTER XV. The weakness of Eugene was
CHAPTER XVI. Eugene was reaching the point where he had
CHAPTER XVII. From Biloxi, because of the approach of summer
CHAPTER XVIII. The next thing was to see what could be done
CHAPTER XIX. This idea of appealing to the president
CHAPTER XX. The matter of securing admission to this house
CHAPTER XXI. There were many days now
CHAPTER XXII. It was while he was mooning along in this mood
CHAPTER XXIII. The form of Carlotta Wilson was perfect
CHAPTER XXIV. Days like this could not go on forever
CHAPTER XXV. The sequel of this scene was not to be waited for
CHAPTER XXVI. The situation which here presented itself was subject to
CHAPTER XXVII. Angela was quick to act upon her thought
CHAPTER XXVIII. The hells of love are bitter and complete
CHAPTER XXIX. Eugene's feelings on this occasion were
CHAPTER XXX. It was only after a considerable lapse of time
CHAPTER XXXI. The work which Eugene undertook in connection with
CHAPTER XXXII. The Summerfield Advertising Agency
CHAPTER XXXIII. When Eugene called, Mr. Daniel C. Summerfield
CHAPTER XXXIV. The designs or suggestions which Eugene offered
CHAPTER XXXV. Still time went by
CHAPTER XXXVI. There came a time, however
CHAPTER XXXVII. The best positions are not always free from
CHAPTER XXXVIII. It was in the fall of the third year
CHAPTER XXXIX. The results of this evening were most pleasant
CHAPTER XL. The upshot of Eugene's final speculation
CHAPTER XLI. The opening days of this their second return to
CHAPTER XLII. The affairs of the United Magazines Corporation
CHAPTER XLIII. The trouble with this situation
CHAPTER XLIV. It was in the course of his final upward progress

BOOK III. THE REVOLT
CHAPTER I. It was when Eugene was at the height
CHAPTER II. While these various events were occurring
CHAPTER III. The matter was not difficult to arrange
CHAPTER IV. It had been while he was first perfecting
CHAPTER V. It was after this meeting that vague consciousness
CHAPTER VI. This burst of emotion with its tentative understanding
CHAPTER VII. It would be impossible to describe even in so detailed
CHAPTER VIII. Having involved himself thus far
CHAPTER IX. There followed now a series of meetings
CHAPTER X. The introduction of this astonishing fact
CHAPTER XI. This night passed without additional scenes
CHAPTER XII. After dining joyously
CHAPTER XIII. Eugene and Angela had been quarreling
CHAPTER XIV. For hours that night, until one
CHAPTER XV. The fire and pathos of Mrs. Dale's appeal
CHAPTER XVI. Mrs. Dale's next step in this struggle
CHAPTER XVII. It was a Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec express
CHAPTER XVIII. The Cathcart Lodge, a long, two-story affair
CHAPTER XIX. It was three days later when he was at his office
CHAPTER XX. The flaw in this situation was that Eugene
CHAPTER XXI. The next day, after wavering
CHAPTER XXII. One would have thought that this terrific blow
CHAPTER XXIII. During the weeks which followed Colfax's talk
CHAPTER XXIV. To those who have followed a routine or system
CHAPTER XXV. Those who have ever tried to read
CHAPTER XXVI. The most dangerous thing to possess a man
CHAPTER XXVII. It was while he was in this state
CHAPTER XXVIII. The trouble with Angela's system
CHAPTER XXIX. The denouement of all this, as much as ever could be
L'ENVOI. There appears to be in metaphysics a basis