The romance of sinclair lewis by gore vidal the new york. The romance of sinclair lewis by gore vidal the new. Main street by sinclair lewis documentary duration. She marries will kennicott, a doctor, who is a smalltown boy at heart. Will kennicott just after college and moves to the small town of gopher prairie, minnesota. A librivox recording of main street by sinclair lewis, in the public domain. 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 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. He won the nobel prize for literature in 1930, the first given to an american. A broadway play version of the novel was produced in 1921. The story would be the same in ohio or montana, in kansas or kentucky or illinoi.
The remarkable novels presented here in this library of america volume combine brilliant satire with a lingering affection for the men and women, who, as lewis wrote of. Gopher prairie has changed its name to williamsburg and sinclair lewiss main street has become i married a doctor for the sweet uses of diversity and the warners, but the honest heart of. Sinclair lewis 18851951, the author of six novels that were turned. 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. Will kennicott, to leave the city life to which she is accustomed. I started with babbitt, a worthy novel, but inferior to main street. 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 1920 by sinclair lewis is a critique of capitalism through a feminist lens, among other things. Will kennicott at a friends house, and he begins courting her.
The movie theater in this town probably has the original signage as well. The librivox catalog page for this work lists the librivox readers. Published in 1920, the novel follows carol milford as she moves to a conventional small town, where she encounters its conceited residents. She immediately doesnt fit in, and she spends years trying to reform the. In writing main street, sinclair lewis paid little attention to formal plot development. The arrival of pretty carol milford in the staid midwestern town of gopher prairie really shakes up the locals. Its fair to say that main street might be considered either a realist novel or a satire, depending on how funny you actually find it.
Oct 24, 20 main street 1920 by sinclair lewis is a critique of capitalism through a feminist lens, among other things. Like carol, sinclair lewis was no stranger to disappointment. 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. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of main street. Carol milford is a young, liberated woman from saint paul, minnesota, who marries a smalltown doctor named will kennicott. The squat little building is flattopped and brutalist, more like a military bunker than a literary museum. Starring colin firth, ellen burstyn, patricia clarkson, amber tamblyn, and orlando bloom. Based on the 1922 novel by sinclair lewis, this film follows the life of george babbitt guy kibbee, a successful businessman, husband, and father of ted glen boles and verona maxine doyle in. Print ad albuquerque morning journal, albuquerque nm 26 april 1923 see more. Jane smiley continues her series on the novel with a look at sinclair lewiss main street, about the claustrophobia of smalltown life in america. He was born in sauk centre, minnesota, the son of a doctor. Sinclair lewis, american novelist and social critic who punctured american complacency with his broadly drawn, widely popular satirical novels. 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. First published in 1920, main street is sinclair lewis first major novel, and was a phenomenal success at the time.
A 6 x 778 blackandwhite silver print formal portrait by yvonne, matted and framed to an overall size of 10 x 15, of lewis on the day he left for his honeymoon with dorothy thompson, signed by the photographer in red pencil beneath the image. 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. 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. The first four references are part of the language. Carol kennicott nee milford, educated at tiny blodgett college, wants action. The palmer house hotel and restaurant is a must stop. 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. With florence vidor, julien beaubien, monte blue, harry myers. That would all change when main street hit shelves in 1920 and sold 250,000 copies in its first yeara crazy huge number for the 1920s.
Modeling his fictional midwestern town on his real minnesota home town, lewis. This is americaa town of a few thousand, in a region of wheat and corn and dairies and little groves. This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewiss novels, adapted from stephen r. The sinclair lewis interpretative center sits on the corner of main and 12th, across the street from a snap fitness center and a dairy queen. Main street sauk centre 2020 all you need to know before. 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. Arrowsmith 1999, czech mini series elmer gantry 1960, based on novel cass timberlane 1947, based on novel bongo 1947, based on short story fun and fancy free 1947, based on bongo this is the life 1944, based on play untamed 1940, based on mantrap i married a doctor. Main street is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis, and published in 1920 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. They share a nimble, though often heavy handed touch of irony, and good characterization. Jane smiley on sinclair lewiss main street books the. 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. Jane smiley on sinclair lewiss main street books the guardian. In the 1920s, a large component of americas middle class sought a more liberal identity.
Carol milford is a liberal, freespirited young woman, reared in the metropolis of minneapolis. In other words, lewis himself likely thought of main street as a realist novel describing the malaise of a dissatisfied housewife. If you just find the novel flatout depressing, it probably fits more into the. A typical small town main street, but you could almost imagine sinclair lewis walking around here. An extraordinary american life biography, quotes, books duration. The novels heroine, carol milford, is a highly educated, ambitious woman who plans to join a newly enlightened society.
Main street by sinclair lewis was published in 1920. Apr 23, 2019 main street is an american classic that i somehow missed until now, despite growing up in minnesota. Mar 14, 2014 main street by sinclair lewis was published in 1920. 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. 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. Sinclair lewis 18851951 won the nobel prize for literature in 1930, the first american novelist to be so honored. The story would be the same in ohio or montana, in kansas or. Main street 1923 film main street is a 1923 american silent drama film based on the 1920 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis. Main street 1h 30min drama 25 april 1923 usa the arrival of pretty carol milford in the staid midwestern town of gopher prairie really shakes up the locals. The man from main street is a 1986 videocassette produced by wbgu of bowling green, ohio, and distributed by ohio humanities resource center.
The genre of main street can make for interesting discussion. We tend to identify the lewis situations with the american midwest of main street, babbitt, elmer gantry, and dods worth, but actually their personages move. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer and playwright. The story would be the same in ohio or montana, in kansas or kentucky or illinois, and not very differently would it be told up york state or in the. Its not the most obviously exciting read, but it finds danger, excitement and drama hidden in the every day. 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.
That it didnt come close says more about the competition, really, than it does about this. The leaves were turning too and that just added to the charm. Carol milford attends blodgett college in minneapolis and dreams about settling down in a prairie village and transforming it into a place of beauty. 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.
In main street you will find all the typical characters of this great american novel faithfully brought to life and woven into a screen masterpiece that will thrill, entertain and surprise you. Its a big, sprawling book with no discernible plot, like a soap opera. Arguably, he is the first major modern writer of the 20th century, as there is american literature before main street. 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. 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. Main street is an american classic that i somehow missed until now, despite growing up in minnesota. Now, visitors can tour lewis boyhood home and stroll down a quaint yet modern main street that features a historic hotel, an art deco movie. Main street 1920 is a story about carol milford, who is convinced by her new husband, dr. Lewis graduated from yale university 1907 and was for a time a reporter. As only his home town could know him sauk centre herald sinclair lewis 1885 1951 the internet public library, online literary criticism collection sinclair lewis 18851951 new grub street lewis, sinclair writer 18851951 american history 102. Pastores list, a guide to films based on works of sinclair lewis, which appears in the sinclair lewis society newsletter spring 1998.
Buy a cheap copy of main street book by sinclair lewis. The story of carol kennicott is a satiric attack on smalltown life. This is the title of a book authored by sauk centres own sinclair lewis. Sinclair lewis, main street 1920 excerpts from the original electronic text found at the university of virginia librarys etext center homepage chapter 1 i. But its main street is the continuation of main streets everywhere. Inspired by lewis childhood in sauk centre, minnesota, it criticizes romantic notions of small town life in the united states. The movie is entertaining but it is no main street. In 1930 lewis would be the first american to receive the nobel prize for literature. It is packaged in two parts, each part includes seven cassettes. I married a doctor 1936 attempts to update main street. Also inscribed and signed by lewis on the mat to two lifelong friends. Scott fitzgerald, whose the great gatsby 1925 is narrated by nick carrawaylike fitzgeraldan ivy leagueeducated minnesotan who relocates to the east coast. See the article in its original context from february 3, 2002, section 7, page 4 buy reprints.
National humanities center sinclair lewis, main street, 1920, excerpts. The town is, in our tale, called gopher prairie, minnesota. After an extremely unhappy childhood, he went to yale but left before graduation to work in upton sinclairs socialist colony at helicon hall in englewood, new jersey. This is a list of film versions of sinclair lewis s novels, adapted from stephen r. Main street is the novel that established sinclair lewis literary reputation and was his first commercial success. Jul 22, 2011 starring colin firth, ellen burstyn, patricia clarkson, amber tamblyn, and orlando bloom.
Visit the sinclair lewis listing at internet movie database for a more thorough listing of most of the movies and mini series. 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. They relocate to his hometown of gopher prairie, minnesota, where she is taken aback by the little towns backward ways and ugly appearance. Gopher prairie has changed its name to williamsburg and sinclair lewis s main street has become i married a doctor for the sweet uses of diversity and the warners, but the honest heart of. Several residents of a small southern city whose lives are changed by the arrival of a stranger with a. It would also trigger a decade of uninterrupted success. 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. Sinclair lewis s main street is a long meditation on this peculiarly american combination of freedom and rigidity. Main street returns as i married a doctor, at the strand. Consequently the narrative presents a series of episodes rather than a tightly constructed plot. His father, a physician, led a strictly disciplined life, and his mother died when he was six. 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. On a hill by the mississippi where chippewas camped two generations ago, a girl stood in relief against the cornflower blue of northern sky.
In main street you will find all the typical characters of this great american novel faithfully brought to life. Main street 1923 directed by harry beaumont genres drama. Main street is a 1923 american silent drama film based on the 1920 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis. New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars. Interesting collection of businesses and just the place to spend a week end. An awkward youth, lewis did not have a very happy childhood. 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. Babbitt, main street, the trail of the hawk, moths in the arc light, nature, inc.
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