This classic by sinclair lewis shattered the sentimental american myth of happy smalltown life with its satire. In 1930 sinclair lewis became the first american to win the nobel prize for literature, and the 1920 publication of main street brought him his first serious critical recognition. The romantic adventures of a gentle man, appeared in 1914, followed by the trail of the hawk. 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. In main street and babbitt, sinclair lewis drew on his boyhood memories of sauk centre, minnesota, to reveal as no writer had done before the complacency and conformity of middleclass life in america. Carol milford kennicott, a graduate of sanctimonious blodgett college, with a year of additional study in a chicago library school, works as a librarian in st. The story of main street is seen through the eyes of carol kennicott, a young woman married to a midwestern doctor who settles in the minnesota town of gopher prairie modeled on lewis hometown of sauk center. Will kennicott, to leave the city life to which she is accustomed. Sinclair lewis 18851951 a social satire, main street became a bestseller soon after its publication, fascinating readers with its biting humor and realistic portrayal of smalltown communities. Main street by sinclair lewis is a satirical novel concerning small town america. No subtlety, weird and inconsistent accents, makes carol sound like a helpless sap, and pronounces the name bea, beeah.
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. Carol kennicott nee milford, educated at tiny blodgett college, wants action. Jane smiley continues her series on the novel with a look at sinclair lewiss main street, about the claustrophobia of smalltown life in america jane smiley sat 24 jun 2006 08. The story follows carol milford, a liberal and freespirited woman, as she marries dr. Free download or read online arrowsmith pdf epub book. In the 1920s, a large component of americas middle class sought a more liberal identity. The most celebrated are sinclair lewis, whose novel main street 1920 is a satirical portrait of smalltown provincialism modeled on his hometown of sauk centre, and f. First published in 1920, main street is sinclair lewis first major novel, and was a phenomenal success at the time. Jane smiley on sinclair lewiss main street books the. Sinclair lewis 18851951, was born in sauk centre, minnesota, and graduated from yale in 1907. The novels heroine, carol milford, is a highly educated, ambitious woman who plans to join a newly enlightened society. Letters of sinclair lewis, 19191930 by sinclair lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at.
Main street became a household word, both in the united states and abroad, within a few years after the publication of sinclair lewis widely read novel. Jane smiley on sinclair lewiss main street books the guardian. Born and raised in sauk centre, minnesota, lewis knew the american heartland as few other writers have. Harry sinclair lewis was born february 7, 1885, in the small minnesota town of sauk centre, which would ultimately provide the model for the town of gopher prairie in main street. Printed in th united states of america to james branch cab ell and joseph hergesheimer this is america a town of a few thousand, in a region of and corn and dairies and little groves. The power of the book derives from lewis careful rendering of local speech, customs, and social amenities. The story of carol kennicott is a satiric attack on smalltown life. Main street, sinclair lewis main street is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis, and published in 1920. My uncredentialed opinion is that these three novels form a feminist trilogy from that time. In 1930 lewis would be the first american to receive the nobel prize for literature. Pdf arrowsmith book by sinclair lewis free download 428. The project gutenberg ebook of main street, by sinclair lewis this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer and playwright. Sinclair lewis, the main street burglary and a rejection notice share.
They relocate to his hometown of gopher prairie, minnesota, where she is taken aback by the little towns backward ways and ugly appearance. Sinclair lewiss main street, published in 1920, tells the story of carol milford, a clever and ambitious young woman, who at college. Consequently the narrative presents a series of episodes rather than a tightly constructed plot. Main street is an satirical novel by nobel prize winning author sinclair lewis. The first of sinclair lewiss great successes, main street shattered the sentimental american myth of happy smalltown life with its satire of narrowminded provincialism. Main street is a story about carol milford, who is convinced by her new husband, dr. I read main street years ago and thought it was time to reacquaint myself with the story. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are. The main characters of this classics, fiction story are. Main street attacks the conformity and dullness of early 20th century midwestern village life in the story of carol milford, the city girl who marries the town doctor. Widely hailed as a milestone in american literature, sinclair lewis main street vividly describes a country on the verge of massive change, with traditional values being threatened by progress.
Download m4b part 1 177mb download m4b part 2 174mb download m4b part 3 157mb download cover art download cd case insert. Main street is a novel by sinclair lewis that was first published in 1920. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Carol milford is a liberal, freespirited young woman, reared in the metropolis of saint paul, minnesota. Main street 1920 was his first critical and commercial success. Visit the sinclair lewis listing at internet movie database for a more thorough listing of most of the movies and mini series. If there is another feminist trilogy written by an american male from the early twentieth century, i cannot name it. The book satirizes the ugliness and conformity found in small midwest towns during the second decade of the twentieth century and ridicules the uninspired and selfsatisfied inhabitants. Twitter facebook email originally, the pulitzer prize for a novel was to go to a book which shall best present the wholesome atmosphere of. The first of sinclair lewiss great successes, main street shattered the sentimental american myth of happy smalltown life with its satire of narrow minded.
Today, many people think of the book as a great example of satire because of the way it exposes the people of gopher prairie to ridicule as typical smalltown americans. Collecting main street by lewis, sinclair first edition. Main street is a feminist book about how society restricts womens choices and makes them miserable. This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewiss novels, adapted from stephen r. In main street, sinclair lewis suggests that carol kennicott is ahead of her time. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and. Published in 1920, the novel follows carol milford as she moves to a conventional small town, where she encounters its conceited residents characterized by their ignorance, hypocrisy, and. Lewis trenchant social commantary is present in both. But in a memoir, sinclair lewiss first wife, grave hegger, claimed that main street was not a satire until the critics began calling him a. It appears to me that sinclair lewis really hit his stride with main street. Main street by sinclair lewis by sinclair lewis nook. Pdf main street book by sinclair lewis free download.
Free download or read online main street pdf epub book. Main street is the novel that established sinclair lewis literary reputation and was his first commercial success. Scott fitzgerald, whose the great gatsby 1925 is narrated by nick carrawaylike fitzgeraldan ivy leagueeducated minnesotan who relocates to the east coast. Pastores list, a guide to films based on works of sinclair lewis, which appears in the sinclair lewis society newsletter spring 1998. She marries will kennicott, a doctor, who is a smalltown boy at. And by the chance of propinquity she read scores of books unnatural to her. The first edition of the novel was published in 1920, and was written by sinclair lewis. Sinclair lewiss barbed portrait of gopher prairie, minnesota, shattered the myth of the american middle west as gods country and became. Main street 1920 is a story about carol milford, who is convinced by her new husband, dr. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 454 pages and is available in paperback format. In writing main street, sinclair lewis paid little attention to formal plot development.
If she had been born fifty years later, shed have a much better chance of finding fulfillment. The remarkable novels presented here in this library of america volume combine brilliant satire with a lingering affection for the men and women. They share a nimble, though often heavy handed touch of irony, and good characterization. The project gutenberg ebook of main street, by sinclair lewis this ebook is for. We find a book about the odd, contradictory towns that evolved in america, trying to express freedom and fundamentalism at the same time. William kennicott and settles in his hometown of gopher prairie, minnesota.
I started with babbitt, a worthy novel, but inferior to main street. Sinclair lewis, the main street burglary and a rejection. The book has been awarded with pulitzer prize for novel 1926. An awkward youth, lewis did not have a very happy childhood. Inspired by lewis childhood in sauk centre, minnesota, it criticizes romantic notions of small town life in the united states.
On july 17, 1920, sinclair lewis delivered the finished manuscript of main street to alfred harcourt in the hope that it would sell 10,000 copies. The first edition of the novel was published in 1925, and was written by sinclair lewis. The satire is doubleedgeddirected against both the townspeople and the. Reflecting his own unhappy childhood in sauk centre, minnesota, lewiss sixth novel attacked the conformity and dullness he saw in midwestern village life. Main street by sinclair lewis, first edition abebooks. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 428 pages and is available in hardcover format. The genre of main street can make for interesting discussion. New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars.