Main Street

Sinclair Lewis

Dec 2023 · Good Press

About this ebook

Sinclair Lewis's novel, Main Street, is a poignant portrayal of small-town America, critiquing the conformity and hypocrisy of rural society in the early 20th century. Written in a straightforward and realistic style, Lewis captures the struggles of Carol Kennicott, a young woman striving for intellectual and cultural fulfillment in the stifling environment of Gopher Prairie. The novel's social commentary and satirical tone make it a significant work in American literature, highlighting themes of individualism versus community values and the limitations of small-town life. Main Street remains a timeless classic that challenges readers to reflect on societal norms and personal authenticity.

About the author

Harry Sinclair Lewis was born on February 7, 1885 in Minnesota. He was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. A lonely child, Lewis immersed himself in reading and diary writing. While studying at Yale University and living in writer Upton Sinclair's communal house, he wrote for Yale Literary Magazine and helped to build the Panama Canal. After graduating from Yale in 1908, Lewis began writing fiction, publishing 22 novels by the end of his career. His early works, while often praised by literary critics, did not reach popularity but with Main Street (1920), Babbitt (1922), Arrowsmith (1925), Elmer Gantry (1927), and Dodsworth (1929), Sinclair Lewis achieved fame as a writer. His style of choice was satire; he explored American small-town life, conformity, hypocrisy, and materialism. Sinclair Lewis was married and divorced twice. As his career wound down, he spent his later life in Europe and died in Rome on January 10, 1951.