Edna Ferber wrote So Big in 1924 and won the Pulitzer Prize for it the following year. The bestselling book was inspired by the life of Antje Paarlberg of the Dutch community of South Holland, a Chicago suburb. So Big follows the life of Selina Peake DeJong, a gambler's daughter who struggles with her family, her inner character, and staying sane while overcoming the challenges of life. Written by "the greatest American woman novelist of her day," Edna Ferber characterized her novel as "a story of the triumph of failure," citing that the theme was something people would have to find while reading for themselves.
Despite this, critics praised So Big for its uniqueness, inspiration, and Ferber's social commentary. When Selina DeJong's father is shot dead, a victim of his own gambling, Selina decides to become a school teacher in a rural farming community. Her plan is to leave after gaining two years of experience to teach in a bigger city, but plans always change. While there, she marries a local farmer named Pervus. Through this, Selina learns that farming is hard work, and that diligent effort can still result in failure. Selina and Pervus have a son named Dirk, who Selina nicknames "Sobig" due to the common question: "How big is the baby?" Selina begins to realize that her dreams of teaching in the big city may never come to fruition, as life happens so quickly without even realizing it.
So Big may by the life tale of Selina DeJong, but it is the story of life and its failures, and how to find other successes in those failures. Written with quiet dignity, simple moments, and intriguing characters, Ferber's "So Big" is an inspiring novel.
