This novel reminded me of Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" for two reasons. First, Martin Dressler becomes consumed with an idea of success and, as the title suggests, an American dream, at the expense of all else in his life. He forgoes a meaningful marriage for the sake of a hotel; which leads me to the second point reminescent of Rand: architecture.

Dressler becomes interested in creating a architectural masterpiece of essentially everything he touches. I'll say that the features of the hotel he ends up building are far from ordinary and possibly the most creative I've ever heard of.

This is a beautiful novel of obsession and consumption of an idea; and most importantly, the reprecussions of what that obsession can do to an individual's life.

I was fascinated by this book, and am still not sure how I feel about it.

Martin's dreams and the businesses he builds from them are so much more real to him than the people that make them possible. On the other hand, he is a consummate discoverer and manager of people who can make his dreams come true--the ones he chooses to make his businesses a success. However, he only seems to listen to a few people and allow them into his life. All the others he relates to only as employer, order-giver, customer -- and a few other narrowly limited relationships. He controls every minute detail of his businesses. Paradoxically his personal life just seems to "happen" to him, as a drifting or dream-state, in which he takes no initiative.

The descriptive details are marvelous, helping me see, hear, feel, smell, and almost touch this bursting-through period in our history.

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A pulitzer Proze winner - a brilliant novel!

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Read All Book Reviews of "Martin Dressler The Tale of an American Dreamer Vintage Contemporaries"