So Big -- Edna Ferber

<p>Inspired by the life events of Antje Paarlberg, <i>So Big</i> 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. </p> <p>First published in 1924, Edna Ferber felt unsure about her novel <i>So Big</i>, 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, <i>So Big</i> features a slice-of-life narrative, with strong themes of community, expression, and family. With intricate description of the daily life of the lower-