49 pages • 1 hour read
James M. CainMildred Pierce
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1941A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain centers on a single mother, Mildred, navigating life's hardships during the Great Depression after her husband leaves her. She builds a successful restaurant business while dealing with personal and family struggles, particularly with her ambitious and manipulative daughter, Veda. The novel delves into themes of sacrifice, ambition, and complex mother-daughter relationships. Mildred’s daughter Ray dies of the flu.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
James M. Cain’s Mildred Pierce masterfully portrays a woman’s quest for independence during the Great Depression. Critics praise its strong narrative and complex character development. However, some find the plot overly melodramatic. Overall, the novel’s exploration of ambition and sacrifice resonates deeply, despite occasional pacing issues.
Who Should Read Mildred Pierce?
Readers who enjoy Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain appreciate psychological dramas and complex character studies set during the Great Depression. Fans of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, which explore ambition, betrayal, and the darker side of the American Dream, will find similar themes engaging in this novel.