Theodore Dreiser 
Stoic 

The conclusion to the trilogy based on a real railway tycoon’s life, with “an amazingly intricate description of high-rolling 19th-century finance” (The Wall Street Journal).   Based on the life of railway tycoon Charles Tyson Yerkes, the epic Trilogy of Desire weaves a tale of American capitalism through the rise and fall of Frank Cowperwood. Following The Financier and The Titan, the third novel follows Cowperwood as he heads across the sea to London for a chance to develop a new underground railway system. Though still married to his estranged wife, Aileen, he has found a new paramour in Berenice—among others. Doing what he does best, Frank puts his plans in motion to conquer London’s transportation market, guaranteeing the bulk of the profits for himself. However, as his age begins to catch up with him, an illness makes it clear these are the last years of his life, and he must negotiate personal and financial challenges to make his lasting mark on the world—a quest that will ultimately be completed by one of the women in his life.