Sinclair Lewis

Babbitt Sinclair Lewis

Publisher Marketing: Lewis has been both criticized and congratulated for his unorthodox writing style in Babbitt. As one reviewer puts it: "There is no plot whatever... Babbitt simply grows two years older as the tale unfolds."[15] Lewis presents a chronological series of scenes in the life of his title character. After introducing George F. Babbitt as a middle-aged man, "nimble in the calling of selling houses for more than people could afford to pay," Lewis presents a meticulously detailed description of Babbitt's morning routine.[16] Each item Babbitt encounters is explained, from the high-tech alarm clock, which Babbitt sees as a marker of social status, to the rough camp blanket, a symbol of the freedom and heroism of the West. As he dresses for the day, Babbitt contemplates each article of his "Solid Citizen" uniform, the most important being his Booster's club button, which he wears with pride. The first seven chapters follow Babbitt's life over the course of a single day. Over breakfast Babbitt dotes on his ten-year-old daughter Tinka, tries to dissuade his 22-year-old daughter Verona from her newfound socialist leanings, and encourages his 17-year-old son Ted to try harder in school. At the office he dictates letters and discusses real estate advertising with his employees. Review Citations:

Publishers Weekly 10/27/2008 pg. 47 (EAN 9781580813211, Compact Disc)

Library Journal 04/15/2002 (EAN 9780786197170, Compact Disc)

Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2006 pg. 568 (EAN 9780140189025, Paperback)

Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2010 pg. 507 (EAN 9780140189025, Paperback)

Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2014 pg. 608 (EAN 9780140189025, Paperback)

Contributor Bio:  Lewis, Sinclair Nobel Prize-winning writer Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) is best known for novels like Main Street, Babbitt, Arrowsmith (for which he was awarded but declined the Pulitzer Prize), and Elmer Gantry. A writer from his youth, Lewis wrote for and edited the Yale Literary Magazine while a student, and started his literary career writing popular stories for magazines and selling plots to other writers like Jack London. Lewis's talent for description and creating unique characters won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930, making him the first American writer to win the prestigious award. Considered to be one of the "greats" of American literature, Lewis was honoured with a Great Americans series postage stamp, and his work has been adapted for both stage and screen.