Damaged Goods The great play "Les avariés" by Brieux, novelized with the approval of the author

"Damaged Goods" by Upton Sinclair, adapted from Eugène Brieux's play "Les Avaries," is a novel that explores the repercussions of sexual promiscuity and societal morality, written in the early 20th century. The story follows George Dupont, a respectable young man engaged to be married, who grapples with the guilt and anxiety stemming from a recent indiscretion that leaves him fearing for his future and the health of his fiancée, Henriette. The opening of the novel sets the stage with George Dupont emerging from a night of recklessness, reflecting on his actions and wrestling with feelings of shame and anguish as he contemplates his engagement to Henriette. He recalls the past events leading up to his misstep, including his relationships with Henriette and Lizette—a working-class girl he had previously supported. As he confronts the reality of his situation, he seeks medical advice, fearing he has contracted a sexually transmitted disease that could compromise his future with Henriette. The narrative effectively introduces the central conflict of George’s internal struggle between societal expectations, personal desires, and the weight of his secret, signaling a deep exploration of the themes related to morality and the consequences of one's actions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. was an American author, muckraker, and political activist, and the 1934 Democratic Party nominee for governor of California. He wrote nearly 100 books and other works in several genres. Sinclair's work was well known and popular in the first half of the 20th century, and he won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943.