Sinclair Lewis: Rebel From Main Street by richard r. lingeman

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

An incredibly well-written biography presents the life of a remarkable man. He was the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930. His name was Lewis. In many aspects, Lewis led a troubled and self-destructive life. There were numerous challenges and difficulties that he had to face. However, when it came to writing, he gave his all without reservation. He poured his heart and soul into every word he penned. His efforts were not in vain. Thanks to his dedication and hard work, we, the readers, are able to benefit from his literary genius. His works have had a profound impact on the literary world and continue to be read and studied today. We are all made the better for his efforts.

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nickiflash

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It is truly interesting to learn about someone who goes so completely against the grain of Modernist approaches. As a result, he is disliked on aesthetic grounds. At the same time, he is also disliked by conventional conservatives due to his attacks on small town sensibilities, the business mind-set, and evangelicalism. Despite all his skill in conducting societal analyses, Lewis often remained oblivious to the needs and identities of others. The descriptions of his monologues are sufficient to make one dislike him. However, I do appreciate that he was an excellent mimic of Midwest speakers and of other writers.

Some of Lewis' novels give the impression of being rather dire. There is so much agonizing over the plot. But I recall having liked some of the more well-known ones when I read them decades ago.

Richard Lingeman has done as good a job as one could possibly do, considering the distance from Lewis' time (he passed away in 1951) and from the context of those times. It is a sad life that has been told well. This is a readable and well-researched biography.

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narukresna

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Lewis.

I read Mark Schorer's bio approximately 30 years ago. I still recall having the distinct impression that Schorer didn't seem to have much affection for Lewis. That's okay, but it's a显著的 difference between Lingerman's bio and Schorer's.

Lingerman tells the story in a way that doesn't give me the sense that he disliked Lewis. Instead, I had the impression that Lingerman at least respected Lewis, perhaps even liked him.

The story is told with clear and open eyes, which has been extremely helpful in enabling me to understand Sinclair Lewis and his books. It has also made me respect, if not like, him.

Well done! This biography has provided a fresh and engaging perspective on Sinclair Lewis, and I look forward to reading more works by Lingerman.

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Icy64

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This biography of America's first Nobel prizewinner for literature is truly interesting on at least three fronts.

First, it offers a wonderful portrayal of the publishing industry in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. We get a glimpse into the inner workings of that world and how it functioned during those times.

Second, it makes me extremely glad that I am not a genius novelist. The prerequisites seem to be alcoholism and a severe case of manic-depressive disorder. It shows the dark side that many of these brilliant minds had to deal with.

Finally, since I had just finished reading a biography of John Galsworthy, a contemporary, it was really fascinating to encounter the same people from a different perspective. It gives us a more comprehensive understanding of the literary scene and the relationships between these important figures. Overall, this biography is a captivating read that offers many insights into the life and times of America's first Nobel laureate for literature.

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YotsubaEnjoyer

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This biography makes a significant contribution towards restoring Sinclair Lewis's reputation.

Not only did his books top the bestseller lists in the 1920s and earn him the distinction of being our first Nobel Laureate in Literature, but he also penned a book titled "It Can't Happen Here," which, ironically, turned out to be a prescient warning.

Here is a review that I wrote for the Los Angeles Times some time ago.

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/mar/...

The work of Sinclair Lewis is often overlooked or underestimated in the modern literary landscape. However, this biography attempts to rectify that by shining a light on his many achievements and the lasting impact of his writing.

"It Can't Happen Here" is a particularly important work that challenges our assumptions and forces us to confront the potential for authoritarianism and fascism in our own society.

By revisiting Lewis's life and work, we can gain a better understanding of the literary and cultural context in which he wrote, as well as the relevance of his ideas today.

This review offers a unique perspective on Lewis's contributions and serves as a reminder of the importance of his work in the history of American literature.

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Kohomint

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

**“THE LITERARY SOCIOLOGIST”**

The subtitle of Mr. Lingeman’s biography about Harry Sinclair Lewis (1885 - 1951), “Rebel from Main Street,” is indeed apt. Lewis had a remarkable career, writing twenty-one novels. He achieved great literary heights, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and becoming the United States’ first Nobel Prize winner in literature. Four of his works, namely “Main Street” (1920), “Babbitt” (1922), “Arrowsmith” (1925), and “Elmer Gantry” (1927), remain popular to this day. A fifth work, “It Can’t Happen Here” (1935), regained popularity when Donald Trump won the presidency.

Lewis’s upbringing in a religious conservative rural world in Minnesota was described by Mr. Lingeman. He was an outlier, with a poor work ethic as a youngster and was often ridiculed by classmates. Despite this, he attended Yale University and was considered an odd bird on campus. However, higher learning inspired him to pursue writing seriously.

Before achieving literary success, Lewis was a peripatetic job-hopper and easily bored. He had to hobnob with other writers and publishers to get his work published, and becoming a Saturday Evening Post contributor was a major turning point. But his liberal views clashed with the conservative dictates of its publisher, George Lorimer. His first major hit, “Main Street,” propelled him into stardom and led to his break with the Saturday Evening Post.
Lewis’s works lampooned various aspects of American culture, including advertising, corporate language, marketing patriotism, high society, religion, middle-sized cities’ capitalist boosterism, the terror of social ostracism, jingoism, class, penal and capital punishment, racism, and American fascism. He hobnobbed with literary and social notables of his time and was committed to researching his topics.
However, Lewis’s later years were sad. His alcoholism contributed to the breakdown of his marriages, the end of friendships, and a decline in his writing. He was also a detached father and constantly sought attention. Despite his literary achievements, he comes across as immature and pathetic in the book.
Mr. Lingeman’s biography is a thorough and interesting read for those interested in the influential author. However, if you don’t have a keen interest, you may find it boring. It also reinforces the idea that writers can be eccentric and self-centered, as stated by William Goldman. Overall, it provides a detailed look into the life and works of Sinclair Lewis.

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ShionAster

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Pitiful Minnesota man is constantly making a fool of himself all over the world. It's really a rather comical and yet somewhat endearing sight. God bless him indeed. Despite his misadventures and the embarrassing situations he finds himself in, there is something about him that makes one curious. I have such a strange affection for this guy that I would be more than willing to read a biography about him that is even longer than War and Peace. I wonder what kind of crazy and wonderful stories his life holds. Maybe there are hidden depths and lessons to be learned from his experiences. One thing is for sure, he definitely keeps things interesting and makes me eager to know more about his journey.

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Camyy

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It had been an extremely long time, a full 44 years in fact, stretching between Mark Schorer's highly acclaimed and award-winning literary biography of Sinclair Lewis in 1961 and this particular one in 2005.

This new biography was badly in need, and Richard R. Lingeman truly did an outstanding job.

In retrospect, it does seem that Schorer had perhaps been a bit too harsh on Lewis. He implicitly held Lewis to the norms of the Eastern Establishment, when in reality, a great deal of Lewis's strength stemmed from the fact that he was a small-town Minnesotan who had the courage to take on the powerful Eastern literary establishment and emerged victorious.

This new bio is admittedly a bit on the long side and could have benefited from a little bit of trimming. However, it is without a doubt a significant improvement over the Schorer bio and most definitely deserves to be read and studied for many years to come.

Readers will have the opportunity to discover what truly motivated the man who gave the world such remarkable works as Main Street, Babbitt, Dodsworth, It Can't Happen Here, Kingsblood Royal and numerous other highly significant novels and writings.

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Sinclair Lewis: Rebel From Main Street

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