So Big (Mint Editions (Jewish Writers: Stories, History and Traditions)) - Hardcover

Ferber, Edna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1513208500 ISBN 13: 9781513208503

Publisher: Mint Editions, 2021

Synopsis

Inspired by the life events of Antje Paarlberg, So Big is an award-winning drama that depicts the life of Selina Peake de Jong. Raised in a strict farming community, Selina decides to be a schoolteacher. Good-hearted and kind, she attempts to inspire her students to work for their dreams, no matter how nontraditional they seem. By encouraging artistic expression, Selina changes the lives of her students. When she marries a farmer named Pervus, the two welcome a baby boy into their family, naming their child Dirk. However, after the family suffers a tragic loss, Selina is forced to quit her job and work on a farm in order to provide her son with a stable life. As Dirk grows, Selina nurtures his artistic talent, proud when he begins to express interest in architecture. However, when Dirk comes of age, he begins to value money more and more, eventually giving up on the architect profession in favor of a stable and lucrative job as a stock broker. Heartbroken, Selina still tries to support her son, while quietly hoping that he returns to value his artistic roots.

First published in 1924, Edna Ferber felt unsure about her novel So Big, which would eventually go on to win a Pulitzer Prize, and inspire adaptations for film, radio and television. Set in a rural community within a Chicago suburb, So Big features a slice-of-life narrative, with strong themes of community, expression, and family. With intricate description of the daily life of the lower-class Dutch community, contemporary readers are afforded a privileged perspective into the social dynamics of early 20th century America.

This edition of So Big by Edna Ferber now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of So Big crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and emotion of Edna Ferber’s literature.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

About this title

About the Author

Edna Ferber (1885-1968) was an American author and playwright. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ferber moved around a lot as a child due to her father’s unpredictable employment and was often harassed with anti-Semitic taunts. Ferber originally wanted to study to become an actress, but left her education at seventeen to help support her family. First working as a reporter, Ferber was known for her quick wit and high quality of work. In 1925, she won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel So Big. By the end of her impressive career, Ferber wrote two autobiographies, thirteen novels, ten collections of short fiction, eight plays, one screenplay, and three of were works were adapted into musicals.

From the Back Cover

Raised in a Dutch farming settlement, Selina is a strong advocate for artistic expression, a sentiment she tries to pass on to her son and students. Written by Edna Ferber, So Big is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that depicts the life of an idealistic schoolteacher, as she tries to overcome her circumstances and nurture the dreams of her community.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1513208500
• ISBN 13: 9781513208503
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 230