"Being a man given to oratory and high principles, he enjoyed the sound of his own vocabulary and the warmth of his own virtue."-Sinclair Lewis, BabbittIn the novel Babbitt (1922), Sinclair Lewis created a sardonic portrait of a typical American businessman, striving to conform to the standards of the American culture of the time. Its "hero" is a real estate salesman who, having striven to become a solid citizen in middle America, gradually becomes aware how shallow his ideals are. After the book's publication, the term "Babbitt" became a popular reference to describe people who are social conformists.
"Being a man given to oratory and high principles, he enjoyed the sound of his own vocabulary and the warmth of his own virtue."-Sinclair Lewis, BabbittIn the novel Babbitt (1922), Sinclair Lewis created a sardonic portrait of a typical American businessman, striving to conform to the standards of the American culture of the time. Its "hero" is a real estate salesman who, having striven to become a solid citizen in middle America, gradually becomes aware how shallow his ideals are. After the book's publication, the term "Babbitt" became a popular reference to describe people who are social conformists.
"It is one of the major tragedies that nothing is more discomforting than the hearty affection of the Old Friends who never were friends."-Sinclair Lewis, ArrowsmithArrowsmith (1926) is among Sinclair Lewis's early novels. Even so, it is usually considered one of his major works, because it was the first "scientific" novel. Inspired to write it by major reforms in the field of medical education at the time, Lewis explored the culture of science by telling the story of Martin Arrowsmith, a brilliant doctor and scientist who wants to conquer the plague virus. To ensure its authenticity, Lewis sought out the help of a science writer, and the book was so highly regarded that it was awarded a Pulitzer Prize (which Lewis declined).
"It is one of the major tragedies that nothing is more discomforting than the hearty affection of the Old Friends who never were friends."-Sinclair Lewis, ArrowsmithArrowsmith (1926) is among Sinclair Lewis's early novels. Even so, it is usually considered one of his major works, because it was the first "scientific" novel. Inspired to write it by major reforms in the field of medical education at the time, Lewis explored the culture of science by telling the story of Martin Arrowsmith, a brilliant doctor and scientist who wants to conquer the plague virus. To ensure its authenticity, Lewis sought out the help of a science writer, and the book was so highly regarded that it was awarded a Pulitzer Prize (which Lewis declined).
"It's one of our favorite American myths that broad plains necessarily make broad minds, and high mountains make high purpose." ― Sinclair Lewis, Main Street Main Street (1920) was Sinclair Lewis's very first novel. Turning a spotlight on the hypocrisy and pettiness of middle America, the novel tells the story of Carol Milford Kennicott and her struggles with the small-town mentality of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. With its publication, the author immediately established himself as a master of political and social satire, a talent that led to his 1930 Nobel Prize for Literature.
"It's one of our favorite American myths that broad plains necessarily make broad minds, and high mountains make high purpose." ― Sinclair Lewis, Main Street Main Street (1920) was Sinclair Lewis's very first novel. Turning a spotlight on the hypocrisy and pettiness of middle America, the novel tells the story of Carol Milford Kennicott and her struggles with the small-town mentality of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. With its publication, the author immediately established himself as a master of political and social satire, a talent that led to his 1930 Nobel Prize for Literature.
"In story and in treatment the novel is wholly of our own day, but in spirit and feeling it makes evident the paternity of Charles Dickens." -"Latest Works of Fiction," The New York Times, March 1, 1914 Our Mr. Wrenn is an early example of Sinclair Lewis's capacity for creating memorable characters who have many of the characteristics of stereotypes. In this case, Mr. Wrenn is a poorly paid and underappreciated salesclerk whose primary pleasure in life comes from a rich fantasy life, which, for Wrenn, involves as much travel as possible. Coming into an inheritance suddenly allows him to live out his fantasies, and the reader is given the opportunity to delight in Wrenn's metamorphosis.
"In story and in treatment the novel is wholly of our own day, but in spirit and feeling it makes evident the paternity of Charles Dickens." -"Latest Works of Fiction," The New York Times, March 1, 1914 Our Mr. Wrenn is an early example of Sinclair Lewis's capacity for creating memorable characters who have many of the characteristics of stereotypes. In this case, Mr. Wrenn is a poorly paid and underappreciated salesclerk whose primary pleasure in life comes from a rich fantasy life, which, for Wrenn, involves as much travel as possible. Coming into an inheritance suddenly allows him to live out his fantasies, and the reader is given the opportunity to delight in Wrenn's metamorphosis.
. . . this is a flagrant excursion, a tale for people who still read Dickens and clip out spring poetry and love old people and children . . ." -from the Introduction to The Innocents The Innocents (1917) is one of Sinclair Lewis's earliest novels and is often put in the category of "potboiler" because it was created primarily to make money by appealing to popular taste. Nevertheless, Lewis's deep sensitivity to societal problems emerges as the book explores the themes of identity and ageism. It tells the story of an older couple who take off on a journey to launch a business rather than move to an assisted living facility. Thanks to the sweetness of its characters, The Innocents encourages optimism and the defiance of convention but still makes a strong statement about discrimination against the elderly and the dissonance often present between one's own identity and the identity that is perceived by society.
. . . this is a flagrant excursion, a tale for people who still read Dickens and clip out spring poetry and love old people and children . . ." -from the Introduction to The Innocents The Innocents (1917) is one of Sinclair Lewis's earliest novels and is often put in the category of "potboiler" because it was created primarily to make money by appealing to popular taste. Nevertheless, Lewis's deep sensitivity to societal problems emerges as the book explores the themes of identity and ageism. It tells the story of an older couple who take off on a journey to launch a business rather than move to an assisted living facility. Thanks to the sweetness of its characters, The Innocents encourages optimism and the defiance of convention but still makes a strong statement about discrimination against the elderly and the dissonance often present between one's own identity and the identity that is perceived by society.
"Humor is next to Godliness." ― Sinclair Lewis, Mantrap To create Mantrap (1926), Sinclair Lewis adapted journals his brother Claude kept while the two traveled in Canada two years before the book appeared. In it, the author created the story of New York lawyer Ralph Prescott's journey into the Saskatchewan territory and of his adventures there. Two separate films, Mantrap (1926) and Untamed (1940), both of which were based on the story, were produced.
"Humor is next to Godliness." ― Sinclair Lewis, Mantrap To create Mantrap (1926), Sinclair Lewis adapted journals his brother Claude kept while the two traveled in Canada two years before the book appeared. In it, the author created the story of New York lawyer Ralph Prescott's journey into the Saskatchewan territory and of his adventures there. Two separate films, Mantrap (1926) and Untamed (1940), both of which were based on the story, were produced.
"We'd get sick on too many cookies, but ever so much sicker on no cookies at all." -Sinclair Lewis, The JobIn his novel The Job (1917) Sinclair Lewis vividly describes the world of work for women in the early years of the twentieth century. The novel was one of Lewis's first successes, praised as a groundbreaking work for having a woman as the lead character, as well as for providing insights into the lives of working women. While it was only the third book the author wrote in his own name, it established Lewis as a foremost author of novels about social realism.
"If you don't think for yourself, then you're admitting that your theory of happiness is the dog asleep in the sun." -Sinclair Lewis, The Trail of the Hawk The Trail of the Hawk (1915) is a coming-of-age novel that describes the struggles of Carl Ericson as he tries to reconcile his desire for adventure with societal expectations. In classic Lewis style, the author explores the effects of immigration, convention, entrepreneurship, love, maturity, and passion in a style that is simultaneously humorous and wise.
"If you don't think for yourself, then you're admitting that your theory of happiness is the dog asleep in the sun." -Sinclair Lewis, The Trail of the Hawk The Trail of the Hawk (1915) is a coming-of-age novel that describes the struggles of Carl Ericson as he tries to reconcile his desire for adventure with societal expectations. In classic Lewis style, the author explores the effects of immigration, convention, entrepreneurship, love, maturity, and passion in a style that is simultaneously humorous and wise.
A satiric look at American society following the First World War, Babbitt is one of Sinclair Lewis's best-known works. Real estate agent George Babbitt says all the right things, has all the right friends, and belongs to all the right clubs. Though he's a man on the rise, Babbitt finds his days empty and yearns for romance and an escape from his tightly ordered life.
In this classic, Sinclair Lewis shattered the sentimental American myth of happy small-town life with its satire. Main Street attacks the conformity and dullness of early 20th Century mid western village life in the story of Carol Milford, the city girl who marries the town doctor. Her efforts to bring culture to the prairie village are met by a wall of gossip, greed, and petty small-minded bigotry. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
Carol Milford is an exuberant, liberal-hearted woman who marries a man from a small town. After they marry they settle in his home-town, Gopher Prairie, which Carol finds narrow and ugly. She throws herself into reforming the town, but is met only with derision by her own class. She decides to leave, but finds that the world outside is just as flawed as Gopher Prairie. She remains uncowed, however, declaring "I do not admit that dish-washing is enough to satisfy all women "
In this sardonic portrait of the up-and-coming middle class during the prosperous 1920s, Sinclair Lewis perfectly captures the sound, the feel, and the attitudes of the generation that created the cult of consumerism. With a sharp eye for detail and keen powers of observation, Lewis tracks successful realtor George Babbitt's daily struggles to rise to the top of his profession while maintaining his reputation as an upstanding family man. On the surface, Babbitt appears to be the quintessential middle-class embodiment of conservative values and enthusiasm for the well-to-do lifestyle of the small entrepreneur. But beneath the complacent facade, he also experiences a rising, nameless discontent. These feelings eventually lead Babbitt into risky escapades that threaten his family and his standing in the community.
