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In October 2005 a conference honoring the contributions of Sinclair Lewis to Midwest and American culture and celebrating the friendship between Sinclair Lewis and Ida K. Compton was held at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Sinclair Lewis would no doubt have been flattered, and perhaps a bit surprised by the breadth of this conference in his honor. The fact that scholars, writers, students and readers gathered to discuss his work and its broader influence would have pleased him. He would have learned that readers still found stimulus for serious thought in his writing, and that his works can serve as a springboard to discussion of today s societal issues, some of which might surprise him considerably.The papers selected from the conference entitled The American Village in a Global Setting consider elements of Lewisworld through today s lens. In Part I, his version of community is compared to that documented in other ways, including architecture and television. Scholars address issues such as anti-Semitism, theocratic communities, the Irish, and outdoor life. In Part II, the concept of community is expanded to the visions of other authors including his contemporaries, such as Martha Ostenso, Josephine Donovan, and Willa Cather, as well as more recent writers. In Part III, today s social and cultural issues in America are addressed, expressing the global and interdisciplinary intent of the conference. And, last, Part IV continues the global theme, addressing international communities and pedagogical philosophies through film and literature. ... Read more

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Though Sinclair Lewis was a winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, Bloom suggests that his reputation declined in the latter half of the 20th century. However, Arrowsmith is still widely read, and Bloom argues that Babbit and Dodsworth deserve larger audiences.

This title, Sinclair Lewis, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Views series, examines the major works of Sinclair Lewis through full-length critical essays by expert literary critics. In addition, this title features a short biography on Sinclair Lewis, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University. ... Read more

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This digital document, covering the life and work of (Harry) Sinclair Lewis, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 6255 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

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A guide to reading "Babbitt" with a critical and appreciative mind encouraging analysis of plot, style, form, and structure. Also includes background on the author's life and times, sample test, term paper suggestions, and a reading list. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

An American Original Maligned
This biography may still be regarded as the standard reference work on Sinclair Lewis, the first American novelist to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Although the book is packed with details, it is not entirely devoid of problems.

There is a lack of perspective, possibly because the book was published within a decade of the author's death. Another factor is that the biographer genuinely seemed to dislike his subject and emphasized his decline as an important writer and his alcoholism. Schorer wrote this book at a time when the conventional wisdom held that Lewis was mediocre at best and hopelessly passe. He seldom varies from that template.

Some of the critiques of Lewis as an individual and an author are true enough, but one gets the feeling from this study that Lewis never enjoyed success, recognition or even a fleeting moment of happiness during his adult life. Thankfully, other subsequent biographers and critics have reappraised the novels of Sinclair Lewis and found that several of the titles merited praise and accolades.

It is true that Lewis never again approached the pinnacle of success that he achieved in the Twenties in the final two decades of his literary career, but how many authors could? Isn't it enough that he managed to have written five exceptional novels, "Main Street," "Babbitt," "Arrowsmith," "Elmer Gantry," and "Dodsworth," in a single decade? Lewis did produce several more bestsellers, but these books did not receive the critical acclaim that the earlier titles did.

Lewis was a keen observer of the American scene, a realist and a humorist. Thank heavens, that he chafed at the bucolic pace of life in Sauk Centre, Minnesota and set out to see the world. ... Read more

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An assessment of the American Nobel Laureate whose work uncovered America for readers the world over. ... Read more