1. Life and Family
Sinclair Lewis, born Harry Sinclair Lewis on February 7, 1885, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. He was the third son of Edwin J. Lewis, a stern and pragmatic country doctor, and Emma Kermott Lewis, a gentle and cultured woman who died when Sinclair was six years old. After her death, he struggled with a distant relationship with his father but found solace in books and writing.
Lewis was an introspective child with a keen interest in literature. He attended Yale University, where he developed his writing skills while contributing to the campus literary magazine. He briefly left Yale to work at Upton Sinclair’s utopian colony, Helicon Hall, in New Jersey but eventually returned to complete his degree in 1908. After graduation, he took on various jobs, including working as a reporter, editor, and advertising writer, before finding his true calling as a novelist.
In his personal life, Lewis married Grace Hegger in 1914, with whom he had a son, Wells Lewis. However, their marriage was strained by Lewis’s struggles with alcoholism and his erratic behavior, leading to their divorce in 1925. He later married journalist Dorothy Thompson in 1928, but this marriage also ended in divorce in 1942. His heavy drinking, combined with his restless nature, often led to difficulties in his personal and professional relationships. Lewis died on January 10, 1951, in Rome, Italy, due to advanced alcoholism.
2. Main Works
Sinclair Lewis is best known for his sharp social criticism and realistic portrayal of American life. His novels often satirized the complacency, conformity, and materialism of small-town and middle-class America.
Main Street (1920) was Lewis’s breakthrough novel and remains one of his most significant works. The novel follows Carol Kennicott, an idealistic young woman who marries a small-town doctor and struggles with the narrow-mindedness and provincialism of Gopher Prairie, a fictional Midwestern town. The book struck a nerve with American readers, selling millions of copies and establishing Lewis as a leading literary figure.
In Babbitt (1922), Lewis paints a biting portrait of George Babbitt, a real estate salesman in Zenith, a fictional city representing typical middle-class America. The novel critiques the shallowness, hypocrisy, and blind conformity of American businessmen and suburban life. The term “Babbitt” even entered the English lexicon as a synonym for a narrow-minded, materialistic businessman.
Arrowsmith (1925) follows the life of Martin Arrowsmith, an idealistic medical researcher who grapples with the corruption and commercialization of science and medicine. The novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, but Lewis famously declined it, arguing that no single book could represent an author's career.
One of Lewis’s most controversial works, Elmer Gantry (1927) satirizes religious hypocrisy by depicting a corrupt and opportunistic evangelical preacher. The novel outraged many religious groups but was a commercial success, solidifying Lewis’s reputation as a fearless social critic.
Dodsworth (1929) explores themes of marriage, aging, and cultural differences through the story of Sam Dodsworth, a successful automobile manufacturer who travels to Europe with his wife. It was later adapted into a successful film and remains one of Lewis’s most acclaimed works.
A political novel that warns of the dangers of fascism It Can’t Happen Here imagines an America where a populist demagogue rises to power and establishes a totalitarian regime. The book gained renewed interest in modern times due to its relevance in discussions of political authoritarianism.
3. Anecdotes and Controversies
Lewis’s life was filled with fascinating and often eccentric moments that reflected his rebellious nature and literary genius. He was notorious for his restless spirit and rarely settled in one place for long. He traveled extensively across the United States and Europe, often staying in hotels and rented houses. This transience reflected his inability to form lasting personal connections, a theme that frequently appeared in his writing.
In 1930, Sinclair Lewis became the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. In his bold acceptance speech, he criticized American society and the literary establishment. Rather than basking in the honor, Lewis used the platform to challenge the complacency and lack of critical thought in American writing.
When Arrowsmith was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1926, Lewis rejected the honor, arguing that the Pulitzer focused too much on works that celebrated American values rather than critically examining them. His decision shocked many in the literary world but cemented his reputation as an independent thinker.
Throughout his career, Lewis was no stranger to controversy. His sharp critiques of American society, religious institutions, and political systems often provoked strong reactions.
Main Street angered many readers, especially those from the Midwest, who felt Lewis had unfairly ridiculed small-town life. Some critics accused him of being too harsh and cynical, while others praised his willingness to expose the flaws of American society.
Religious groups condemned Elmer Gantry for its portrayal of fraudulent and corrupt preachers. Many churches called for bans on the book, and Lewis received numerous threats from outraged readers. Despite the backlash, the novel became one of his most popular works.
4. Conclusion
Sinclair Lewis was a literary giant whose works dissected American society with wit, satire, and realism. His novels challenged conventional norms, exposed societal flaws, and inspired admiration and controversy. Main Street, Babbitt, and Elmer Gantry continue to be studied and discussed, ensuring Lewis’s legacy as a fearless critic of his time. His work reminds us of the power of literature to question, provoke, and illuminate the world in which we live.