In sauk centre, moving main street to main street mpr news. 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. Buy a cheap copy of main street book by sinclair lewis. Main street established lewis as a major american novelist.
Sinclair lewiss novel main street is a scathing indictment of life in smalltown america during the early years of the 20th century. Main street by sinclair lewis pdf free download ebook. Visit the sinclair lewis listing at internet movie database for a more thorough listing of most of the movies and mini series. Main street shows us that there are class differences because some people are better off than othersand think it is because they are just plain better than others.
In writing main street, sinclair lewis paid little attention to formal plot development. 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. In 1930 lewis would be the first american to receive the nobel prize for literature. Apr 23, 2019 main street is an american classic that i somehow missed until now, despite growing up in minnesota. Main street is a 1923 american silent drama film based on the 1920 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Sinclair lewis s main street is a long meditation on this peculiarly american combination of freedom and rigidity. Consequently the narrative presents a series of episodes rather than a tightly constructed plot. The romance of sinclair lewis by gore vidal the new york. See a complete list of the characters in main street and indepth analyses of carol kennicott and dr. After college he spent several years as a newspaper reporter and editor. In the 1920s, a large component of americas middle class sought a more liberal identity. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
This american classic is like new and features deluxe leather hardcover finish with a hubbed spine and 22 kt. Floyd dell reports in homecoming that lewis was said to have cut out from his main street, on the advice of cabell, the one sensible character in the book, through whom his own constructive. Main street is a satirical novel about smalltown life, and is notable for the presence of a strong female protagonist source. Its a big, sprawling book with no discernible plot, like a soap opera.
The novel tells the story of carol milford, a young progressive woman raised in st. They share a nimble, though often heavy handed touch of irony, and good characterization. Jane smiley on sinclair lewiss main street books the. Main street 1920 is a story about carol milford, who is convinced by her new husband, dr. The only serious extramarital love affair in main street is that between carol and erik valborg, a tailors assistant five years younger than she.
Mar 27, 2018 first published in 1920, main street is sinclair lewis first major novel, and was a phenomenal success at the time. I know there was a lot of antagonism against lewis for his portrayal of life in small town minnesota, and maybe thats why i dont recall any discussion of him or his fiction in high school in the early 60s despite the fact that he was minnesotas and the usas first. Inspired by lewis childhood in sauk centre, minnesota, it criticizes romantic notions of small town life in the united states. 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. However, she marries a doctor, who persuades her to settle with him in gopher prairie, minnesota. This collectors printing is on archival paper with gilt edges. She saw herself persuading children to read charming fairy tales, helping young men to find books on mechanics, being ever so courteous to old men who were hunting for newspapersthe light of the library, an authority on books, invited to dinners with poets and explorers, reading a paper to an association of distinguished scholars. The story of carol kennicott is a satiric attack on smalltown life. Letters of sinclair lewis, 19191930 by sinclair lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. But its main street is the continuation of main streets everywhere. Arguably, he is the first major modern writer of the 20th century, as there is american literature before main street 1920 and after that seminal novel, which revolutionized writing in the us. Main street is the novel that established sinclair lewis literary reputation and was his first commercial success. They relocate to his hometown of gopher prairie, minnesota, where she is taken aback by the little towns backward ways and ugly appearance.
Pdf main street book by sinclair lewis free download. The novels heroine, carol milford, is a highly educated, ambitious woman who plans to join a newly enlightened society. Carol milford is a young, liberated woman from saint paul, minnesota, who marries a smalltown doctor named will kennicott. This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewis s novels, adapted from stephen r. 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. Will kennicott, to leave the city life to which she is accustomed. When you walk down the main street of this central minnesota town, theres no escaping the presence of its most famous native son. 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. Main street is a satirical novel about smalltown life, and is notable for the presence of a strong female protagonist. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach.
Satirizing small town life, main street is perhaps sinclair lewis s most famous book, and led in part to his eventual 1930 nobel prize for literature. Why dont you put some the sumarrysynopsis of sinclair lewis main street. 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. I read main street years ago and thought it was time to reacquaint myself with the story. Highly acclaimed upon publication, main street remains a recognized american class. After graduating from yale in 1908, lewis began writing fiction, publishing 22 novels by the end of his career. Written by sinclair lewis, audiobook narrated by lloyd james. Born and raised in sauk centre, minnesota, lewis knew the american heartland as few other writers have. Jul 02, 2018 signs point to sinclair lewis avenue and the original main street, named for lewis first commercially successful novel. Main street is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis, and published in 1920. The power of the book derives from lewis careful rendering of local speech, customs, and social amenities. Main street by sinclair lewis p1 of 2 full audiobook greatestaudiobooks v2 carol milford, a collegeeducated, progressive, ambitious young woman, is selfsufficient working as a librarian in.
But it was not until his sixth novel, main street 1920, that he won recognition as an important american novelist, the first to challenge the myth of the happy quintessentially american small town. Main street by sinclair lewis, first edition abebooks. Main street is an american classic that i somehow missed until now, despite growing up in minnesota. Sinclair lewis, the main street burglary and a rejection notice share. Sinclair lewis, the main street burglary and a rejection. This was the tradition in which sinclair lewis had matured. Chapter 1 the reader is introduced to carol milford, a beautiful, young woman trying to find her place in the world. 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. The bindings are sewn including a silk sewn bookmark. The first four references are part of the language. 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 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. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. On may 6, three days after the announcement, lewis refused the prize and told the world why.
I ended up buying another version because i couldnt stand it. Main street by lewis, sinclair search for rare books abaa. Lewis has some of the sharpest nails on the american blackboard. That this ford car might stand in front of the bon ton store, hannibal invaded rome and erasmus wrote in oxford cloisters. Main street is the climax of civilization, sinclair lewis declared with a typical blend of seriousness and irony. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of main street. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 454 pages and is available in paperback format. Twitter facebook email originally, the pulitzer prize for a novel was to go to a book which shall best present the wholesome atmosphere of american life. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. The first edition of the novel was published in 1920, and was written by sinclair lewis. He also makes a point of saying that the story of gopher prairie could be the same for any small town in america. Scott fitzgerald, whose the great gatsby 1925 is narrated by nick carrawaylike fitzgeraldan ivy leagueeducated minnesotan who relocates to the east coast.
Kennicott puts a stop to the romance and makes plain to his wife the kind of life she would lead if married to the son of a swedish farmer. Main street by sinclair lewis p1 of 2 full audiobook. In 1930 lewis would be the first american to receive the nobel prize for. It relates the life and struggles of carol milford kennicott in the small town of gopher prairie, minnesota, as.
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. Free download or read online main street pdf epub book. Sinclair lewis, the first american to win the nobel prize for literature, was a colossus of american letters in the first half of the last century. Jun 03, 2008 sinclair lewiss main street, published in 1920, tells the story of carol milford, a clever and ambitious young woman, who at college harbours dreams of a career as a town planner. Edited by john hersey lewis is to slang what mark twain is to dialect. The story would be the same in ohio or montana, in kansas or kentucky or illinois, and not very differently. Specifically, main street tells the story of carol kennicott, who moves to gopher prairie, a fictional. The main characters of this classics, fiction story are. A broadway play version of the novel was produced in 1921. I think that might be help for me or anybody like me who cannot afford to buy his book. Paul, who marries will kennicott, a smalltown doctor. The first of sinclair lewiss great successes, main street shattered the sentimental american myth of happy smalltown life with its satire of narrowminded provincialism. Before you get into the meat of main street, sinclair lewis wants you to read a passage where he describes the small town of gopher prairie and the type of people who live there.
Lewis trenchant social commantary is present in both. 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 is a novel by sinclair lewis that was first published in 1920. In main street, sinclair lewis suggests that class snobbery is an evil that will never go away. Jun 24, 2006 jane smiley continues her series on the novel with a look at sinclair lewis s main street, about the claustrophobia of smalltown life in america jane smiley sat 24 jun 2006 08. 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. I know there was a lot of antagonism against lewis for his portrayal of life in small town minnesota, and maybe thats why i dont recall any discussion of him or his fiction in high school in the early 60s despite the fact that he was.
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. The reemergence of sinclair lewis as a paradigmatic american novelist, a potential. 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. He has a grotesque facility for reproducing it, a talent like playing the saw or cracking knuckles.
Sinclair lewiss main street minnesota digital library. Signs point to sinclair lewis avenue and the original main street. Main street, sinclair lewis main street is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis, and published in 1920. Jane smiley continues her series on the novel with a look at sinclair lewiss main street, about the claustrophobia of smalltown life in america. This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewiss novels, adapted from stephen r. 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. 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.
No subtlety, weird and inconsistent accents, makes carol sound like a helpless sap, and pronounces the name bea, beeah. Carol kennicott nee milford, educated at tiny blodgett college, wants action. It relates the life and struggles of carol milford kennicott in the small town of gopher prairie, minnesota, as she comes into conflict with the smalltown mentality of its residents. The genre of main street can make for interesting discussion. 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.