That said, it would seem impossible that a mere biographer could effectively eliminate a popular and famous novelist. During his days in high school, his works were published by the sauk centre herald. He is best known for his works main street and babbitt. The most celebrated are sinclair lewis, whose novel main street 1920 is a. Famous quotesthe quotations page sinclair lewis 1885 1951 us novelist. Sinclair lewis biography and bibliography freebook summaries.
The great satirical novelist, one of the most famous american writers of the 1920s, whose novels are popular for its satire, humor, descriptions of social establishments and relations between people of that time. Sinclair lewis 18851951 was an american novelist and playwright, and the first american to win the nobel prize in literature. In 1930, he became the first writer from the united states to receive the nobel prize in literature, which was awarded for his vigorous and graphic art of description and. Known for their satirical take on modern affairs, his bestknown books include main street, arrowsmith, babbitt, and dodsworth. The romance of sinclair lewis by gore vidal the new york. Sinclair lewiss collected works kindle edition by lewis, sinclair. Babbitt, a prosperous realestate broker in the midwestern town of zenith.
Sinclair lewis books biography and list of works author of babbitt. It relates the life and struggles of carol milford kennicott in the small town of gopher prairie, minnesota, as she comes into conflict with the smalltown mentality of its residents. During the 1920s, lewis works main street and babbitt, skewered what he saw as the mindless consumption and conformity of middleclass american society in an age of affluence. Sinclair wrote the novel to portray the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in the united states in chicago and similar industrialized cities. Pastores list, a guide to films based on works of sinclair lewis, which appears in the sinclair lewis society newsletter spring 1998. Satirizing small town life, main street is perhaps sinclair lewiss most famous book, and led in part to his eventual 1930 nobel prize for literature. Arguably, he is the first major modern writer of the 20th century, as there is american literature before main street 1920 and after that seminal novel, which revolutionized writing in the us. Also, his son was a war hero and his wives were famous in their own right. Sinclair lewis had to deal with cruel treatment throughout most of his life. My objection to the church isnt that the preachers are cruel, hypocritical, actually wicked, though some of them are that, too think of how many are arrested for selling fake stock, for seducing 14yearold girls in orphanages under their care, for arson, for murder. Lewis graduated from yale university 1907 and was for a time a reporter. This cheerful little road novel, published in 1919, is about claire boltwood, who, in the early. It relates the life and struggles of carol milford kennicott in the small town of gopher prairie, minnesota, as she comes into conflict with the smalltown mentality of. Long before jack kerouac penned his famous american roadtrip epic, sinclair lewis wrote what may in fact be the seminal work of the genre.
In thirtyseven years, he had written twentyone novels, many short stories, a few plays, and some poetry on varied themes. The main character, buzz windrip, appeals to voters with a mix of crass language and. Sinclair lewis 1885 1951 sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist and playwright born harry sinclair lewis in sauk centre, minnesota, he began reading books at a young age and kept a diary. He had two older siblings, fred born 1875 and claude born 1878.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Sinclair lewis s collected works is contained 11 works written by sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer, and plays who won the nobel prize for literature in 1930. His primary purpose in describing the meat industry and its working conditions was to advance socialism in the united states. Sinclair lewis, american novelist and social critic who punctured american complacency. Sinclair lewis 1885 1951 sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist and playwright. See all books authored by sinclair lewis, including it cant happen here, and main street, and more on. These are the 11 works of sinclair lewis in this book.
It is the middle stone of three, for the famous son is buried between his father, dr. Sinclair lewis american novelist born on february 07, 1885, died on january 10, 1951 harry sinclair lewis was an american novelist, shortstory writer, and playwright. Read sinclair lewis books online the literature page. Though lewis at times criticized the american way of living, his basic view of what he called the american human comedy was optimistic. Sinclair lewis biography, quotes, works and writings. The middleclass businessman and resident of the upandcoming town of zenith who is the title. Anative of the midwestern united states, sinclair lewis 18851951 chronicled through novels and short stories the changes brought by the shift from a mainly rural, agricultural society to one that was increasingly urban and industrial. Born in 1886, in sauk centre, minnesota, henry sinclair lewis became the first. Main street modern library 100 best novels kindle edition. Harry sinclair lewis was born on february 7, 1885, in sauk centre, minnesota to dr. The following is a list of novels published by sinclair lewis.
Sinclair lewis has 173 books on goodreads with 187815 ratings. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist. Sinclair lewis biography life, story, history, wife. The best works of sinclair lewis collection of best works of. But my life, aside from such youthful pranks as sailing on cattleships from america to england during university.
Sinclair lewis was the first american to win a nobel prize for literature. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sinclair lewiss collected works. For a list of primary and secondary sources concerning lewis, please visit our listing of scholarly works. He was taunted as a child and young man for his somewhat unattractive looks. In 1930 sinclair lewis became the first american to win the nobel prize for literature, but this honor brought him little personal happiness. Sinclair was a bit reserved as a child, and books interested him more than people. Although sinclair lewis was one of the most famous american writers of the 1920s, today his popular. Novelist, critic, and teacher, one of the moving spirits at the university of california, mark schorer has been at work for more than a decade on his big. Lewis produced a great deal of writing in the following years, but none of these works were as successful as his earlier efforts. Sinclair lewis said when fascism comes to america it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
His works are known for their critical views of american capitalism and materialism. A dreamer, at age he unsuccessfully ran away from home, wanting to become a drummer boy in the spanishamerican war. A dreamer, at age he unsuccessfully ran away from home, wanting to become a drummer boy in the spanish. This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewis s novels, adapted from stephen r. Main street modern library 100 best novels kindle edition by lewis, sinclair. Nov 21, 2019 upton sinclair was an activist writer whose works, including the jungle and boston, often uncovered social injustices. Rare books by women writers collecting interesting editions of the work of leo and diane dillon the history and importance of. Sinclair lewis biography childhood, life achievements. In 1922 lewis published babbitt, a study of the complacent american whose.
Born february 7, 1885, in the village of sauk centre, minnesota, sinclair lewis began reading books at a young age and kept a diary. In particular, the works of sinclair lewis published after 1923 are still under in the united states, and all of his works may be in the european union. Sinclair lewis was the first american writer to win the nobel prize in literature. Sinclair lewiss collected works kindle edition by lewis.
Lewis, and his mother, emma kermott lewis, who died when harry, as he was then called, was six years old. Great quotes by sinclair lewis that will keep you pumped up. The nobel prize was awarded to sinclair lewis for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters. Sinclair lewis biographical t o recount my life for the nobel foundation, i would like to present it as possessing some romantic quality, some unique character, like kiplings early adventures in india, or bernard shaws leadership in the criticism of british arts and economics. Lewis took a daring stand, and his work brought about the deconstruction of the myth. Upton sinclair biography and list of works upton sinclair books. He won the nobel prize for literature in 1930, the first given to an american. On january 10, 1951, sinclair lewis died in a clinic on the outskirts of rome, less than a month before his sixtysixth birthday. He was recognized for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters. Upton sinclair biography upton sinclair september 20, 1878 november 25, 1968 wrote in many genres, often advocating socialist views, and achieved considerable popularity in the early twentieth century. Work of art by sinclair lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Upton sinclair was an activist writer whose works, including the jungle and boston, often uncovered social injustices. Upton sinclair books biography and list of works author.
This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewiss novels, adapted from stephen r. Europe was where sinclair lewis spent his final years. Sinclair lewis books biography and list of works author. Read sinclair lewis s biography, works and quotes online for free. Sinclair s works include 22 novels and three plays. He was born in sauk centre, minnesota and grew to become one of the most famous authors. Lewis followed up this first great success with babbitt 1922, a novel that. The best works of sinclair lewis collection of best works.
They relocate to his hometown of gopher prairie, minnesota, where she is taken aback by the little towns backward ways and ugly appearance. He is a pillar of his community, a civic booster, and a believer in achieving success for its own sake, and his story is. In 1930, he became the first writer from the united states and the first from the americas to receive the nobel prize in literature, which was awarded for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters. Main street opens with this passage that shows exactly what lewis was. The jungle is a 1906 novel by the american journalist and novelist upton sinclair 18781968. Although sinclair lewis was one of the most famous american writers of the 1920s, today his popular, mildly satirical poking fun at human folly novels are valued mainly for their descriptions of social institutions and relationships of that time. Therefore users in those countries should not download these works. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer and playwright. Main street 1920 is a story about carol milford, who is convinced by her new husband, dr. Dec 29, 2016 sinclair lewis said when fascism comes to america it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
Sinclair lewis, february 7, sinclair lewis born on february 7, 1885, was one of the american authors in the 1920s for short stories, novels, and playwright, he was born in sauk centre, minnesota and grew to become one of the most famous authors. Sinclair lewis born on february 7, 1885, was one of the american authors in the 1920s for short stories, novels, and playwright. Many of lewiss works were also made into film adaptations. Many of lewis s works were also made into film adaptations. The romance of sinclair lewis by gore vidal the new.
Born in 1885 in minnesota, sinclair lewis worked as a newspaper journalist before becoming an acclaimed novelist. After the enormous success of his novel main street, sinclair lewis turned to another icon of american life, this time the archetypal middleclass businessman, immortalized in the figure of george f. Lewis later books were not up to the standards of his work in the 1920s. Sinclair lewis, american novelist and social critic who punctured american complacency with his broadly drawn, widely popular satirical novels. Born harry sinclair lewis in sauk centre, minnesota, he began reading books at a young age and kept a diary. Sinclair lewiss collected works is contained 11 works written by sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer, and plays who won the nobel prize for literature in 1930. Lewis, was a physician and a stern disciplinarian who had difficulty relating to his sensitive, unathletic third son. Sinclair lewis biography life, story, history, wife, school.
No 47 babbitt by sinclair lewis 1922 what it lacks in structure and guile, this enthralling take on 20s america makes up for in vivid satire and characterisation. Will kennicott, to leave the city life to which she is accustomed. Sinclair lewis, the first american to win the nobel prize for literature, was a colossus of american letters in the first half of the last century. Sinclair lewis, controversial nobel prize laureate, led an interesting life. According to biographer richard lingeman, main street made lewis. Next lewis focused on the american businessman in babbitt 1922, perhaps his major work. He was recognized for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with. Additional resources for sinclair lewis, including a complete list of works, his submitted autobiography, and the nobel prize in literature presentation speech can be found here. The above is the inscription on an unpretentious marker in the cemetery of sauk centre, minnesota. The 1930 nobel prize in literature is awarded to sinclair lewis for his powerful and vivid art of description and his ability to use wit and humor in. He died on january 10th, in rome, due to complications related to his heavy drinking and serious skin disease.
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