saying to Russell Doubleday, “I think its publication as a book would hurt you, as publishers, and me as an author.” Additionally, she later wrote, “Who would be interested in a novel about a middle-aged woman in a calico dress with wispy hair and bad teeth, grubbing on a little truck farm south of Chicago?” To Ferber's surprise, Doubleday loved the novel. It was a commercial success, sold hundreds of thousands of copies in its first year of publication, and became the best-selling work of fiction in America for the year 1924, according to Publishers Weekly. Film, television or theatrical adaptations A number of film adaptations of the novel have been made. The first adaptation, directed by Charles Brabin, was released the same year the novel was published, with Colleen Moore in her first significant dramatic role. The 1932 adaptation, directed by William A. Wellman, featured an ensemble cast led by Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent and Bette Davis. The most recent adaptation, directed by Robert Wise in 1953, starred Jane Wyman and Sterling Hayden. This one softened the ending considerably by including a reconciliation between Dirk and his mother. A satirical version of the novel appears in Bob Clampett's 1946 cartoon Book Revue. A fugitive wolf is running away from the authorities and runs past the book, which features Jimmy Durante on the cover. Durante sticks his famously large nose out and trips the wolf. Radio adaptation So Big was presented on Stories America Loves in 1942. Joan Blaine had the role of Selena Peake in the adaptation. References External links 1924 American novels American novels adapted into films Doubleday, Page & Company books Novels set in Chicago Novels set in the 1890s Novels set in the 1900s Novels set in the 1910s Novels set in the 1920s Novels about poverty Pulitzer Prize for the Novel-winning works Novels by Edna Ferber