《大地》是赛珍珠的代表作。小说叙述的是旧中国的农民王龙从一无所有而成的为一个富户的故事。王龙发迹后，娶了两个姨太太，他的“好”妻子帮他购置并保住地产，他的“坏”妻子则帮他挥霍并卖掉田地。王龙在一场动乱中浑水摸鱼发了财，买了许多土地，并住进了大户财的老宅……他老了，惟一的心愿就是守住家业。他告诫儿子们千万不能卖地，土地就是真正的命根子。

China, during the rule of the Qing Dynasty. The arranged marriage between Wang Lung, a humble farmer, and O-Lan, a domestic slave, will endure the many hardships of life over the years; but the temptations of a fragile prosperity will endanger their love and the survival of their entire family.