Frank Norris Biography

Benjamin Franklin Norris, Jr. was an American novelist writing predominantly in the naturalist genre. His work grapples with the notion of the civilized man overcoming his inner brute or animalistic tendencies. Deeply influenced by Darwinism and its philosophical defenses, Norris developed a unique, though often confused, brand of Social Darwinism. His writing also bore the influence of early criminologists and French naturalists, exploring the clash between societal progress and primal instincts.