First edition | |
| Author | Theodore Dreiser |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | autobiography |
| Publisher | University of Pennsylvania Press |
| Publication date | 1983 |
| Publication place | United States |
An Amateur Laborer is an autobiographical book by Theodore Dreiser.
Although started in 1904, it was only published posthumously in 1983.
The book is an autobiographical account of a three-year struggle with neurasthenia in the aftermath of Sister Carrie 's financial failure. After being constantly turned down for publications while living in Brooklyn, Dreiser finds a job as a manual worker on a railroad. Eventually, his brother Paul Dresser sends him to a health resort, leading to his replenished morale.