Alice Adams, published in 1921, is Booth Tarkington’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a young woman’s struggles with class, ambition, and social acceptance in a Midwestern town. Alice, charming but constrained by her family’s modest means, strives to improve her prospects and win the affections of a wealthy suitor. Tarkington’s sympathetic portrayal of Alice’s hopes, illusions, and resilience offers a nuanced critique of American social mobility and materialism. The novel’s blend of humor, pathos, and social observation ensures its enduring relevance.
