Vandover and the Brute

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the character of Vandover, a young man filled with memories of his troubled past and struggles with his identity and desires as he navigates his adolescence and the expectations placed upon him by society. The opening of the book introduces Vandover and his fragmented memories surrounding pivotal moments in his life, notably the death of his mother during a family journey and his subsequent transition into a tumultuous adolescence. Norris paints a vivid picture of Vandover's environment in San Francisco and highlights his father's challenges in a declining business following a previous period of prosperity. As Vandover matures, he grapples with conflicting influences—his artistic ambitions, societal expectations, and the awakening of a more primal nature, foreshadowing the internal conflict that shapes his character throughout the novel.