Hello there. First of all I should say that I saw the movie first and then I read the book. The movie it was based exactly like the book, with the same scenes, the director (strohein) he even made the movie just like the book. But the producer cutted it, because it was 8 hours of length. The book talks about Mc Teague a dentist who falls in love of one of his patients, the cousin of his best friend, and his best friend helped him to get married. And after this she wins the lottery and there it start an history of love, poor, greed, traitors and death. Good book to read, and great move to watch.

Mcteague, a novel by Frank Norris, is a book which shows how greed can destroy a person's life. Hardworking Mcteague suddenly comes into som money when his wife wins the lottery. He thiks this is cause to celebrate, but he doesn't know how wrong he is. Soon, his best friend turns on him when he feels he has a legitimate claim to the money. A man named Zerkow is driven to murder when he finds that his wife may be withholding very value pottery from him. Almost everybody in the book is devastated in one way or another from their greed. This book is an excellent satire of the evils of greed.

I sort of stumbled upon this page as I was doing a search for a book on California history. I am the great-niece of Frank Norris (living in San Francisco, frequently driving past Frank Norris St., an alley just off Polk St.) I, too, had to read the novel in high school (along with "Sister Carrie", etc) many years ago -- and loved it (though wasn't sure I would). Seeing the film "Greed" a number of years later cemented my regard for the work of my my colorful ancestor. It's great to read these comments and find how much today's readers enjoy the novel...and realize that it probably will not just fade away, but has probably achieved lasting status as one of the great works of western -- Californian -- literature.

Some aspects of McTeague are a little on the amateurish side; it can be psychologically clumsy, and some of the symbolism seems a bit labored (hey, Norris was in his twenties, whaddaya expect?). This, however, is irrelevant, because, truly, it is the most visceral novel I've read in ages, pulling no punches, and with easily the most nightmarish ending I've ever encountered in a 'realistic' novel (whatever you do, don't spoil it for yourself). Norris's single token attempt at lightening the mood is a secondary romantic subplot, but really, you'll be so overwhelmed by the novel's main thread, you'll barely notice.

Norris was heavily, heavily influenced by Zola, and it shows on ever page. And, while his writing might not be up to that of The Man at his height (though if he hadn't died at thirty-two...the mind reels at the possibilities), he nonetheless displays all of Emile's best tendencies: the talent for atmosphere, the firm refusal to ever relent, the simply-drawn but deeply memorable characters...it's all there. Written in English, by an American. One of those things that might contribute to my being proud of my country, if not for various other issues.

Seriously, dudes and dudesses...it's difficult for me to imagine how one could fail to be awestruck by this novel. Anyone interested in American fiction, naturalism, or just kickass writing in general should most definitely not miss it.

I read this book seeking the origins of Progressive Republicanism, the turn-of-the-century movement that gave us Public Utility Commissions and regulated public utilities (amongst other insitutions). In a way, the current California Energy crisis is a result of not remembering this history. Electric power companies are now doing what the Southern Pacific did to California, only in different ways.

As literature, well, it's a bit goody-goody and overwrought for my taste, but I got through it without too much pushing. No, Mr. Norris is not one of our greatest writers. But, as business history, it should be required reading in all MBA programs!

All in all, what we need is a new, updated Progressivism, one that will address the role of money in our political processes. It would also restore some limits on corporate exercise of market power while still encourage competitive enthusiasm.

Frank Norris was among other things a new correspondent, an editorial assistant, as well as a war correspondent in Cuba. He is considered by many to be the first important American naturalist writer. Naturalists strive to observe and report dispassionately, much like a scientist. His writing reflects this belief, it is the modern day equivalent of a "20/20" expose. He details how monopoly affects the average man. He tells the story of the lifes that were changed as a result of our headlong rush towards industrialism. The book is long, melodramatic, and filled with scenes of early California. Unfortunately, the book carries less weight than it did when it was written and tends to become a bore after 300 pages, or less. Also we must not forget that the events in this book actually happened. So unless you have to read it for class...

Definitely not for all tastes, but a strong work, with well-drawn characters and some very beautiful (albeit long) prose passages. Norris has a habit of driving his point into the ground (a section near the end of the novel, which juxtaposes a mother and child starving to death on the street with a wealthy, upperclass, elitist meal comes to mind), but over all a profound and powerful work. Originally intended as the first part of a proposed "Trilogy of Wheat," Norris died near the publication of the second book (see "The Pit.") Definitely recommended for those who enjoy great American literature.