The One Woman
1903 Novel
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The One Woman: A Story of Modern Utopia is a 1903 novel by Thomas Dixon Jr.
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Frontispiece of the first edition of The One Woman | |
| Authors | Thomas Dixon Jr. |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Doubleday, Page[1] |
Publication date | 1903[1] |
| Pages | 350[1] |
Plot summary
Reverend Joseph Gordon, a preacher in New York City, clashes with church elders because of his socialist views.[2][3] Despite being a socialist, his best friend, Mark Overman, is a millionaire Wall Street banker.[2]
Meanwhile, Gordon grows apart from his wife, Ruth, who disapproves of his politics.[2] After he starts a relationship with Kate Ransom, a wealthy female parishioner, he divorces his wife.[2] Kate Ransom donates a million dollars for him to start a new church and thus get rid of the disapproving church elders.[2][3] The new church is called the "Temple of Man".[3]
Unfortunately, Kate Ransom falls in love with his friend Mark Overman.[2] The two men have a fight over the woman, and Gordon kills Overman.[2] Ransom tells the police about the murder and Gordon is sentenced to the death penalty.[2] Meanwhile, his faithful ex-wife asks her childhood lover, now the Governor of New York, to grant him a pardon, which he does.[2] Gordon is rescued from execution at the last minute.[2]
Main themes
Critical reception
The book was widely reviewed and became a best-seller.[2]
It has been interpreted as an attack on socialist clergyman George D. Herron, who had recently divorced.[6]
Theatrical and cinematic adaptations
The novel was adapted as a play in 1906.[4] The first performance took place in Norfolk, Virginia, October of that year.[2][4] It was performed on a tour in the American South.[2] The main character, Frank Gordon, was played by D. W. Griffith.[4] His wife, Linda Arvidson, also acted in the play.[4] Two months later, they were replaced with cheaper actors.[4]
The novel was adapted into a film in 1918.[2][5] The screenwriters were Harry Chandlee and E. Richard Schayer.[2] It was directed by Reginald Barker.[2] It was shot in May–June 1918 at Paralta Studio on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.[2] Actors included W. Lawson Butt, Clara Williams and Adda Gleason.[2] The film, which is now lost, was reviewed in Variety.[2]
