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

"Damaged Goods" by Upton Sinclair is a novel that digs into the tough consequences of risky sexual behavior and the strict rules society had about it back in the day. The book is about George Dupont, a well-respected young guy about to get married. He's super worried and feels guilty because he messed around recently. Now, he's scared about what it means for his future and if he might have made his bride-to-be, Henriette, sick too. At the start, we see George right after a wild night, feeling terrible and ashamed as he thinks about marrying Henriette. He remembers how he got into this mess, including his relationships with Henriette and Lizette, a girl from a poor family he used to help. He goes to a doctor because he's worried he caught a disease, and the whole story is about George's battle with what society expects from him, what he wants, and the heavy secret he's carrying.