Showing results by author "Sinclair Lewis" in All Categories

A biting satire that countered the American myth of wholesome small-town life with a depiction of narrow-minded provincialism, it was to some degree based on Lewis's own experience of growing on Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Set in mid-1910s, it depicts the struggles of Carol Kennicott, a city girl, as she tries to adapt to small town life, having left her librarian job and St. Paul, Minnesota to marry Dr. Will Kennicott of Gopher Prairie. Dismayed by the town’s drabness and the conforming, petty inhabitants, Carol optimistically sets out to improve the town.

George Babbitt has it all: a successful real estate job, a shiny car, a modern house equipped with all the latest technology, and a devoted wife and three children. However, underneath his public persona, he’s beginning to feel that something is missing, and when a tragic incident occurs Babbitt revolts against his hollow life. Can he overthrow everything he values, or will he remain trapped in the machinery of modern life?

A blistering rebuke of religious hypocrisy, Elmer Gantry is the story of a charismatic and manipulative social climber who rises to power within his church, despite his insincerity. Though he preaches against immorality and temptation, Reverend Dr Elmer Gantry can’t seem to give up his own vices, and he leaves a trail of broken people behind him in his pursuit of pleasure and power, betraying anybody and doing anything to get ahead.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. The plains of the American Mid-West are home to some very fine exponents of the literary craft. Throughout this vast landscape stories seem to be everywhere offering their experiences as works just awaiting the final touches and flourishes of these famed authors. They deliver in very talented ways.

We travel with The Hawk, or Carl Ericson, son of Norwegian immigrants, born at the end of the 19th century, through the first three adventurous periods of the young man's life. We see him as an adventurous boy, running away with Gertie Cowels, the girl that lives in the big house in the better part of town, only to be rescued by Bone Stillman, a backwoods philosopher and influence on Carl. He leaves his childhood, Gertie and Joralemon behind, for a short attempt at higher education, then to pursue the hobo life, a Bowery bartender, an engineer in Panama, and an aviator.

Claire Boltwood and her father drive their Gomez-Dep roadster from Minnesota to Seattle, exposing themselves to all the perils of early motoring. They encounter the upper-crust Boltwoods who are at once more noble and more insignificant. Other class barriers exist between Claire and a mechanic named Milt, who, along with his cat, follows close behind.

Despite the traditional expectations of marriage placed on Una Golden in her small Pennsylvania town, she travels to New York to work due to a family illness. But once there, Una discovers a talent for the traditional male bastion of commercial real estate. However, while her company claims to value her work, Una struggles to achieve the same status of her male coworkers. Her unique role as a working woman, doing a man’s job, becomes a challenge in finding an appropriate suitor when Una decides it is time to marry after all.

An early 20th century American story written in the Theodore Dreiser style of each word and chapter building on the previous ones, telling the saga of evangelical religion & people with irony throughout.

This classic satirical novel portrays Babbitt as a materialistic, hypocritical, and self-important middle-aged realtor. His brief romantic encounter and an attempt at liberalism are curbed by fear of criticism, forcing him to conform to the wills of his fellow citizens and club members.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of a young physician and researcher who dedicates himself to the pursuit of scientific truth even in the face of personal tragedy, corruption, and greed. At the time of its publication, this audiobook was voted "Exceptional Recording" by Talking Books Magazine.

Sinclair Lewis’ George F. Babbitt is a complicated and conflicted character. When you think you have his next move figured out, he surprises you. As you begin to like him, he does something to evoke the “what a rat” response. Male menopause wasn’t a pre-Great Depression term, but you could say George has all the symptoms....

Free Air is a witty and romantic road trip novel set in the early 20th century. When an aristocratic New Englander and her father drive from Minneapolis to Seattle, they encounter the untamed beauty of America—and a noble but humble commoner who captures her heart. Sinclair Lewis blends humor, class satire, and adventure in this charming and insightful journey.

Welcome to The Sinclair Lewis Library - a dignified little institution devoted to the careful airing of American ambition, middle-class certainty, and the curious art of taking oneself very seriously. Here, the streets are tidy, the rhetoric is polished, and the human comedy is forever peeking through the curtains. Each episode presents a full reading from Lewis’s novels, where boosters boast, reformers reform, and respectable citizens discover (sometimes to their alarm) that respectability can be the strangest costume of all.Settle in as boardrooms, parlors, laboratories, and Main Streets ...

Join Mike Vendetti, also known as Miketheauctioneer, as he brings to life Sinclair Lewis’ second novel, Trail of the Hawk. Although it didnt achieve the immediate acclaim of his later masterpieces like Babbitt and Elmer Gantry, this work showcases Lewis unique style and remarkable talent. Follow the journey of Carl Ericson, affectionately known as The Hawk, the son of Norwegian immigrants born at the close of the 19th century. Experience his adventurous youth as he escapes with Gertie Cowels, the girl from the affluent part of town, only to be rescued by Bone Stillman, a backwoods ...

Dive into the world of Arrowsmith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from 1926 that follows the journey of a brilliant medical student who evolves into a dedicated medical researcher in bustling New York. His life takes a dramatic turn when a devastating plague drives him to a Caribbean island, where he works tirelessly to develop sera and conduct vital research. Along the way, he encounters a cast of intriguing characters—some who challenge him professionally, others who touch his heart romantically. The striking parallels between the epidemic in this story and the pandemic of the 2020s lend a...

An early 20th Century tale about a booster & businessman who followed the standard program, deviated, and wished his son well in going his own way.

An early 20th century American story written in the Theodore Dreiser style of each word and chapter building on the previous ones, telling the saga of evangelical religion & people with irony throughout.

Explore the world of ambition, conformity, and the pursuit of success as implied by the title. This podcast delves into the complex dynamics of societal expectations and personal fulfillment, capturing the essence of a world where material success often overshadows genuine happiness. Each week, listeners are treated to a rotating collection of full-length audiobooks, each offering a unique perspective on these timeless themes. From different time periods and styles, the stories provide fresh insights and thought-provoking narratives, ensuring there's something for every curious mind. Discover ...

In short, Elmer is a drunken, womanizing hypocrite who becomes a Baptist minister, a position from which he is soon ejected. He then links up with star revivalist Sharon Falconer, who is heavily based on Aimee Semple McPherson. Throughout his career, Gantry moves through many settings and scenarios illustrating aspects of the American religion. With religion as entertainment and show business, both Elmer and Sharon are consummate performers. They are always on.

Hvad ville der ske, hvis USA fik en diktator? DET KAN IKKE SKE HER fra 1935 er en forudseende og advarende roman, der påviser, at det kan ske. I 1936 stiller Bezelius "Buzz" Windrip op som demokratisk præsidentkandidat med lovning om at genoprette USA som et stolt og rigt land med velstand og fremgang. Han advokerer for patriotisme og traditionelle amerikanske værdier og slår let sine modstandere - heriblandt den siddende præsident Franklin D. Roosevelt.