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- Reading time of the complete text: about 12 hours
- Reading time of the summarized text: about 1 hour

"Jennie Gerhardt" is a 1911 novel by Theodore Dreiser that follows the life of the destitute young woman, Jennie Gerhardt. After meeting United States Senator George Brander, she becomes pregnant with his child, but he dies before they can marry. Later, she falls in love with Lester Kane, a prosperous manufacturer's son, and moves to Chicago with him. Despite their differences in class, they live together successfully until Kane decides to marry an affluent widow due to family pressure. The story unfolds with Jennie's struggles, losses, and enduring love for Kane. The novel has been compared to Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" and has been the subject of critical writing and a film adaptation. "Jennie Gerhardt" is a poignant portrayal of a woman's journey through love, loss, and societal pressures.