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.
