An Amateur Laborer

An Amateur Laborer is an autobiographical book by Theodore Dreiser.

Overview
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.