I think this is my favorite Sinclair Lewis book so far.

His character Elmer Gantry is one of the sleaziest protagonists I have ever encountered. Given the themes of religious fanaticism and hypocrisy, the subject matter has truly stood the test of time. It remains entirely relevant nearly a century later. I am quite surprised that it did not win a Pulitzer, as it is even better and more entertaining than Arrowsmith.

In this story, Elmer Gantry transforms from a frat boy to a superpower evangelical rabble-rouser. The tale takes place in the same fictional universe of the state of Winnemac as Babbitt, Arrowsmith, and Dodsworth. In fact, we cross paths with George Babbitt on two occasions, and, if my memory serves me right, we get a brief glimpse of the wealth of the Dodsworths. There is a cute aside where Lewis offers a little self-criticism for Main Street, which was a rather interesting choice considering it was the book that preceded Babbitt and took place outside the world of Winnemac.

Our hero admittedly gives up alcohol and tobacco to better fit his role as a moralistic preacher. However, his penchant for sexy ankles never fades and nearly leads to his downfall time and time again, reminding this reader of other recent figures with similar traits. I believe his lowest moment is his callous treatment of his ex-college friend Frank, a rather introspective preacher who, despite his doubts, continues to preach to not lose to the Gantrys of the world. Unfortunately, the bad guys usually prevail, and this was no exception.

Of note are the remarks about anti-Semitism throughout the book, including an early incident at a college bonfire with Elmer and his buddies where they burn the shingle of a Jewish shopkeeper. Lewis was a friend of anti-Semite H.L. Mencken, but to his credit, he did write books later that were more overtly critical of anti-Semitism. The reason it stood out to me is that the seeds of the anti-Semitism that would keep America out of WWII and prevent Jewish refugees from seeking asylum before it was too late were already deeply ingrained in the American psyche at the turn of the century.

I highly recommend this rocambolesque critique of religion, which is perhaps even more scathing than his criticisms of the medical industry in Arrowsmith. It is truly an American masterpiece.

Oh man, I am truly left a little speechless.

Let me gather my thoughts and pull myself together. I just completed this remarkable classic novel by Sinclair Lewis. I have possessed this book for decades, yet only recently did I decide that now is the opportune time to read it.

It offers a fascinating look at the morals of a church man, Elmer Gantry. He opts to enter the ministry, believing it would be an easier path than obtaining a degree and becoming a lawyer. He indeed attends ministry school and becomes an ordained minister, and he is astonishingly good at what he does.

Sadly, what he does involves twisting his secret immorality to his own advantage. For the most part, he manages to give up alcohol and tobacco to appear righteous, but he can't seem to break free from the habit of meeting women, even after getting married, and seducing them into falling for him.

He is one of those individuals who exploits religion and his "faith in God" to further his own base and hurtful purposes, while simultaneously advancing his ambitions to become the dictator of morals in America, or even in the whole world. I think I actually began to believe he could pull it off. And the more corrupt he is in his private affairs, the more admired, respected, and esteemed he is by his congregations.

I had a teacher once who told me that if Satan were a man on campus, we would elect him student body president. That truly sums up the life of Elmer Gantry.

This book was written in 1926, yet it remains highly relevant today. Sinclair Lewis is a masterful writer, at times deeply poignant, but often extremely clever and downright hilarious in his ironic juxtapositions. He描绘s the characters and situations with such deftness that the transition between Elmer the righteous man of God and Elmer the morally bankrupt degenerate seems rational and acceptable, until in the end, it becomes undeniable.

I have to be honest. The middle of the book seemed to drag a little, but all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. No wonder it is a classic!

“He began slowly, his great voice swelling to triumphant certainty as he talked. He preached that atonement was the one supreme fact in the world. It rendered the most sickly and threadbare equals of kings and millionaires, demanding of the successful that they make every act a recognition of the atonement. To preach the good news of the gospel, ah! For this, the Methodist missionaries had faced the ferocious lion and the treacherous fevers of the jungle, the poisonous cold of the Arctic, the parching desert and the fields of battle. There is no triumph of business so stirring, no need of a sick friend so urgent, as the call to tell the blinded and perishing sinners the need for repentance. Repentance- repentance-repentance- in the name of the Lord God!” - ‘Elmer Gantry’

“These are those that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat, for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto the fountains of waters of life, and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.” - Revelation 17:15-17

“We are lazy! We are not now burning with the fever of righteousness. On your knees you slothful, and pray God to forgive you and to aid you and me to form a brotherhood of the helpful, joyous, fiercely righteous followers of every commandment of the Lord Our God!” - ‘Elmer Gantry’

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‘Elmer Gantry’ was Sinclair Lewis’ eleventh novel, published in 1927 shortly before he won the 1930 Nobel Prize. Lewis begins the story with Gantry enrolled in a Kansas Baptist college in 1902. He is the football team captain, a tall and handsome bully who hates piety and admires drunkenness and profanity. His roommate Jim Lefferts is the football team quarterback, with a studious and thoughtful personality, although he enjoys drinking and chasing women with Gantry. The college offers regular degrees in law and business, but many students plan to pursue careers as preachers. Gantry often goes out with Lefferts, getting drunk and picking fights for fun. After knocking out an evangelist’s heckler, he becomes the center of prayer vigils for conversion.

Despite his bluster against religion, Gantry was born and raised Baptist. In his small town, the church provided everything, from art and music to literature, theater, and social gatherings. His great assets were his looks and baritone voice. An evangelist visiting the school to save the souls of students, a football legend from Chicago, approaches him. In admiration, Gantry is manipulated into testifying at a meeting, against his own instincts and to the horror of his roommate. His classmates and faculty are enraptured with his exhortations and fall into an ecstatic state. Gantry loves the control he has over an audience and discovers a limitless supply of words drilled into his head by the church and school at his disposal.

Challenged by the Dean to have a calling from God and join the ministry, Gantry drinks moonshine and convinces himself that he has seen the light. Two years later, he is an ordained minister in Winnemac, a fictional state invented by Sinclair Lewis when Sauk Center, Minnesota, where he was born and grew up, complained about its portrayal. His popular novels ‘Babbit’, ‘Arrowsmith’, and ‘Dodsworth’ were set there. H L Mencken called it a “standardized chain store state in the Midwest”. Gantry lives in a rundown seminary, finishing up his studies. He obtains a ministry in a nearby town and stays as a guest at the Deacon’s house. He repays him by seducing Lulu, his teenage daughter, and when he tires of her, he tries to escape her attentions.

Gantry’s fellow seminary students argue religious platitudes in sanctimonious and hypocritical tones. Among all his peers and teachers, Gantry stands alone in his oratorical gifts, able to deliver fiery sermons devoid of meaning. He undermines his classmate and professor, who each meet a terrible fate, and schemes to make his fiancée appear unfaithful to get out of a shotgun wedding. After quitting the congregation in her home town, he is offered a job in a city for an Easter sermon. Wasted on whiskey, he is kicked out of the seminary and prohibited from the pulpit. Gantry is a horrible person, but his stupidity, narcissism, and lack of self-awareness are both comic and tragic. Without options, he spends two years as a farm equipment salesman.

On the way, Gantry stumbles into a big tent evangelical event that holds four thousand people, with a three-tiered stage and the beautiful lady preacher Sharon Falconer, based on Aimee Semple McPherson, a Pentecostal star of the period. He gets religion all over again and sees his future before him. After stalking her and wheedling his way in, he has a spot in a Lincoln Nebraska Friday night revival, entrancing the crowd with his tale of a failed businessman finding salvation and success after hearing Sister Falconer’s good word. He joins the traveling show and, infatuated, gives up smoking and drinking, but still can’t keep his hands off a waitress or two. She fires her former lover and hires him as a full-time assistant.

By 1910, they are running out of souls to save and turn to their gifts of healing, as pioneered by the Christian Scientists. Collections break previous records as Falconer and Gantry hone their skills as circus performers. Actors are hired, and crutches are brought in to decorate the altar. Elmer is angry as Sharon hogs the profits. A tabernacle is opened on the New Jersey shore with a rotating cross crowning its roof and room for a chorus of two hundred. Gantry begins to eye the virginal pianist, but when noticed by Falconer, she is fired, and he nearly is as well. When a tragic and unforeseen accident occurs, Gantry attempts to continue with evangelism but finds little success in emulating his former grandiose aspirations and lucrative achievements.

Gantry hooks up with New York City mystic Mrs. Riddle, who teaches the mysteries of Eastern metaphysics and Western philosophies, combining Greek, Roman, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Judaic, and Christian theology, then known as ‘New Thought’. Cheated by Riddle, he pilfers the collections and is caught. When fired, he strikes out on his own as an itinerant swami. His classmate Frank Shallard had moved to Eureka, married a parishioner, and had three kids when Gantry shows up at his door, defeated and desperate for a loan. Lewis’ writing is critical of American culture and its writers’ complacency. ‘Elmer Gantry’ is a story of hubris and greed but also a metaphor for clawing out of poverty by exploiting one’s neighbor’s naïveté.

On his last spiritual legs, Gantry is discovered by a big shot Bishop of the Methodist church in the state capital of Zenith. Hired, he is hustled to the hayseed town of Banjo Crossing. Lewis’ description of the idyllic and rustic village is both charming and funny as Gantry falls in love with the Church trustee’s daughter Cleo, her father a wealthy merchant in the region. Despite his mental density, he begins to read books of all kinds, mainly to steal material for his sermons. Offered the opportunity to complete his Doctorate of Divinity by exam, he dismisses the degree as sophistry, seeing his mission as getting the local hicks up to literary snuff. In a marriage with Cleo for money and ambition, he proves to be a misogynist and misanthrope of the worst sort.

Promoted to larger towns and cities, he joins the theological and civic clubs and has two children in 1916 and 1917. Ever-increasing crowds and his Bible-thumping fury propel him to Zenith, where he leads the main Methodist church. His wife is uninterested in sex after childbirth, and Gantry goes back to his old ways. Lewis’ novel critiques male sexual attitudes in the post-Victorian era. He includes strong female characters such as Sharon Falconer, yet many women are cast as willing supporters of the gender role divisions during the time. The Women’s Suffrage movement and its leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, had an influence on Lewis in the period before the book was published and are evident in Gantry’s depiction.

Despite a hectic schedule and a growing impatience with his suffering wife and children, Gantry seeks to perfect his sermons, gaining a following of hidebound conservatives as youthful liberals find him archaic. He surveys his rival Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, finding reactionaries and radicals. Reverend McGarry, the focus of his hate, is a PhD from the University of Chicago who espouses equality in the Church regardless of wealth. Gaining fame in the city, he finds that people he had slighted have moved to Zenith, including Shallard, whose loan he reluctantly repays, and Lulu, now married with two boys. Bored with Cleo, he rekindles the affair he had ended years ago.

To drum up publicity, he starts an anti-vice crusade, leading the police to break down the doors of part-time prostitutes and small-time bootleggers. Church attendance skyrockets, and Gantry supplements the excitement with vaudeville acts of juggling and strong man antics. Lewis’ portrait of a religious demagogue is not so over the top as to defy belief. Once Gantry rids the city of sin, he socializes with businessmen in country clubs. He attacks Shallard from his pulpit as an atheist and socialist, goading him forward to confess his doubts, endangering his life and career to steal a wealthy patron. In radio broadcasts and sermons to 100,000 worshippers and preaching around the world, he finds true love in his new secretary but is tricked in the end.

Unsurprisingly, this book didn’t play well among the clergy in 1920’s America. It was banned in some cities, and there were calls for Lewis’ arrest, but it became the bestselling novel of 1927. Lewis is often witty and sometimes hilarious. It takes a while to adjust to the colloquial dialogue of the Midwest, which sounds like 1930’s movies, but if anyone should be familiar with it, it would be Lewis. Lewis gained experience in small town religious America by meeting and following preachers across the Midwest and attending their church services. Previously, he had earned $5 million dollars in today’s money for a single novel in 1920. He was often dismissed by critics in favor of Faulkner, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald, which is a shame.

Lewis understood and portrayed the early 20th century Midwest probably better than anyone. Although cloaked in the garb of satire, it might well be the great American novel alongside ‘Huckleberry Finn’, ‘The Great Gatsby’, and ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. Outside of his Nobel Prize, a Pulitzer Prize that he declined, and a US postage stamp, he is not as well recognized today. He was a student of Upton Sinclair, a social critic and novelist, wrote plots for Jack London, and became friends with H G Wells and William Shirer. His 1935 novel ‘It Can’t Happen Here’ described the election of a fascist United States president, foreshadowing what would happen eighty years later. In some ways, he is an American Dickens, both a social observer and storyteller.

I've read that this novel caused quite a furor when it was released, even being denounced by Billy Sunday. Well, I wouldn't know as I wasn't there. But it wouldn't surprise me as I remember when some Christians got very "excited" about the movie "The Last Temptation of Christ". In my opinion, all they accomplished was drawing more attention to the movie than it would otherwise have garnered.

As for Elmer Gantry, I am a Christian and this book arguably takes a rather dim view of some or perhaps most Christians. Gantry is basically a ne'er-do-well who starts in law but is sidetracked by alcohol and his womanizing ways. He is more or less accidentally ordained as a Baptist minister and later becomes a Methodist. Throughout the book, Gantry manages to destroy several lives and leaves a trail of broken people among those close to him. For a while, he becomes the "manager" (and lover) of Sharon Falconer, a character seemingly loosely based on Aimee Semple McPherson. When Falconer is killed in the fire that destroys her new tabernacle, his "career" there is over.

Gantry never really gets his "comeuppance" as he marries well and gets his own congregation.

Regarding its reflection on Christian life and Christians, anyone who follows the news knows there are people who make money from those who badly want to believe. Of course, it's a fallacy to assume that all Christians fall into the crooked and/or gullible paradigm.

Unfortunately (and most Christians are aware of this), we need to "be aware" of those who would twist the Gospel teaching of Christ into a money-making venture. As in other areas, Lewis' approach, while not ideal, does highlight an area where awareness is needed.

I settle on 3 stars. While the book has its points, the writing isn't really among the "greatest" and it does take advantage of prurient interest. In other words, for its day, it's quite racy (staying on this side of actual porn which has been around for a while). The book is readable, and while I wouldn't use the word "enjoyable" as we watch several lives more or less destroyed, it is interesting and well-plotted.

In the end, it must be admitted that the character of Gantry is well-formed even if some of the supporting cast isn't. Gantry is one of a handful of literary characters to become at least fairly iconic. Most know that a reference to "Elmer Gantry" is a reference to a dishonest and probably "immoral" (debauched, depraved?) clergyman.

What really struck me while delving into this book was the astonishingly static nature of the world of religious fundamentalism. Lewis penned this book way back in 1926. However, the world of Evangelical Fundamentalism that he so adeptly satirizes within its pages remained essentially unchanged fifty years later when I was growing up within that very culture.

The language had not evolved one bit. All those familiar, pious phrases of the distinctively churchy language that I was accustomed to in the '70s were right there. The ideas, the cultural paranoia, and the distrust of intellect - Lewis hit the nail on the head with all these aspects. And they are just as relevant to the culture I grew up in or the right-wing religious culture of today as they were ninety years ago when he wrote this novel.

Lewis attended Evangelical church services up to three times each Sunday as part of his research while writing Elmer Gantry. It truly shows. This is a powerful novel that, unfortunately, is nearly as relevant today as it was when it was first written. It serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring nature of certain aspects of religious fundamentalism and their impact on society.

Senryu Review:

The senryu presented here offers a rather interesting and perhaps somewhat satirical take.

It describes a "huckster hick" who is somehow attempting to "ascend the Christian pole." The use of the term "huckster hick" gives the impression of a rather unrefined or even somewhat dishonest character.

The idea of ascending the "Christian pole" could imply a desire to gain some sort of status or authority within the Christian context. However, the final line, "of cant and bunkum," suggests that this attempt is seen as being filled with insincerity and falsehood.

Overall, the senryu seems to be making a comment on the potentially corrupt or insincere aspects of those who try to climb the ladder of religious or social status. It may be a reminder to look beyond the surface and question the motives and authenticity of such individuals.

It's a concise yet thought-provoking piece that leaves the reader with something to consider about the nature of human behavior and the pursuit of power and influence within a particular context.

Elmer Gantry In Novel And Opera

After listening to a new recording of the opera "Elmer Gantry" by Robert Aldridge with a libretto by Herschel Garfein, I was compelled to read the famous 1927 novel by Sinclair Lewis on which it was based. The opera, composed in 2007, received an excellent performance from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Florentine Opera Company, and a cast of distinguished singers.

The story of Elmer Gantry is familiar from the novel and its movie adaptation. Set in the American Midwest in the early 20th century, Gantry is a football-playing, hard-drinking young man who becomes a minister due to his speaking voice. He is an evangelist before becoming the pastor of increasingly larger churches. Gantry is crude, a scoundrel, and a hypocrite. He has affairs while crusading against vice and narrowly escapes blackmail. He has become a stock hypocritical figure in American literature.

Comparing the novel to the opera was valuable. The novel is lengthy and prolix, while the opera's libretto is a remarkable example of compression. The opera ends with the death of Sharon Falconer, the most fascinating character in both the opera and the novel. In the opera, she is a more complex character than in the book. The opera also shows sympathy for the Midwest rural people, which is absent in Lewis' novel.

In some ways, the opera improves upon the novel, but it is no substitute for reading the book. The book has substantial strengths, such as its detailed portrayal of harsh life in the Midwest. It takes its time to develop the story, from 1902 to the mid-1920s. The key section involves the portrayal of Sharon Falconer and Gantry's relationship with her. After her death, Gantry becomes involved in New Thought and has a series of affairs.

The book has been criticized for its one-sided portrayal of religion, but it is not a total anti-religious screed. It includes some thoughtful discussions of religion and includes two good, thoughtful characters. Despite its flaws, "Elmer Gantry" is a powerful novel that held my interest and inspired thought. I also enjoyed the operatic version, which realized the book's potential for an artistic rendition in music. I was glad to have the opportunity to read the classic American novel and think more about Elmer Gantry and American religion.

Robin Friedman

Power, greed, concupiscence, and hypocrisy are four words that are closely associated with Elmer Gantry’s journey towards pastoral glory and his magnetic adoration as a purveyor of salvation.

Elmer was a diligent explorer, carefully observing what worked best to capture people's imaginations and the easy money that could follow if he was successful. It was quite a lucrative gig for those who could make it work.

So, he came to witness the success of Sharon Falconer of Hanning Hall, Broughton, Virginia. Born Katie Jonas in Utica, New York, formerly a stenographer and the daughter of a brickyard laborer, Sharon was an evangelical, itinerant preacher who had the secret formula for success. Elmer went to work for Sharon and refined his skills.

They became intimate, despite Sharon having a few unusual bedroom quirks that would likely have sent many men running for the hills and never looking back. However, Elmer didn't flinch. Such was the strength of his attraction, at least for a while. His many attractions never lasted long.

Sharon dies holding a cross when her seashore tabernacle pier in New Jersey goes up in flames during a service. Elmer ensures his own survival and moves on, but not so for the 111 people who perish. He eventually makes his way to Zenith in the state of Winnemac, the same town featured in Babbitt. He is entrusted with a Methodist church that is on the decline, but not for long. His congregation grows impressively through some rough-and-tumble marketing tactics. Then, his fortunes increase even further as an early adopter of radio.

But the question remains: did Elmer actually believe? The question of belief didn't seem to consume much of his attention because whether he was selling tools and machinery for the Pequot Farm Implement Company or forgiveness from a pulpit, Elmer Gantry was in control of his destiny and was never to be deterred. He had his sights set on ruling the world.

A truly delightful novel indeed. Lewis clearly derives great pleasure from satirizing religion. He takes on the diverse church denominations and demolishes them with assaults from multiple angles. He exposes hypocrisy through the character of Elmer Gantry. Supposedly a defender of morality, Elmer instead enhances his career through empty publicity, name-calling, and scorning the women who fall in love with him. He also neglects his family while single-mindedly pursuing his goals.

This book lays bare the lust for power that lies beneath evangelical movements and more traditional churches. It is also about the cult of personality, with Elmer Gantry being the prime example. This becomes even more evident in the Sharon Falconer episode. In fact, I feel that the book loses some of its momentum after the sudden and somewhat可疑 death of Sharon midway through the story. Nevertheless, what follows is Elmer's continued journey through the religion business. Elmer changes his convictions whenever there is an opportunity for his advancement. There is a plethora of colorful characters. Most of the religious ones are depicted as deeply flawed. Interestingly, towards the end of the book, Elmer's crusade appears to be an attack on liberalism, opposing the teaching of science in schools and advocating for prohibition to maintain "moral values".

Overall, this novel offers a thought-provoking and entertaining exploration of the complex world of religion and its various manifestations.

\\n  Bigoted Bully in Beliefs Biz\\n



Flatulistic televangelist farming for funds


This is a story that, while perhaps a bit tame by modern standards, still holds significance. It tells of a bigoted bully who, at times, seems to verge on insanity. Under the guise of religion, he shamelessly abuses his power. He continuously succumbs to the temptations of the flesh and the perils of arrogant pride. One might have expected a more scathing condemnation, but then it must be remembered that this novel is set in the early 1900s.





It is truly shameful that the number of charlatans in this country has only increased. However, the situation could potentially be even more dire. Imagine a world where the USA has elevated a bigoted, bullying, and unbalanced demagogue to political power. In such a case, it would be ironic to say that life trumps fiction. It makes one wonder about the state of our society and the values that we uphold. Are we headed in a dangerous direction? Only time will tell.

True rating: 4.75 stars

The novel was truly captivating, almost a five-star read. There was only one part towards the end that slightly disrupted my immersion. However, overall, it was an enthralling experience.

Elmer, the main character, is not someone to look up to, yet I found myself eagerly anticipating his every move. The vivid imagery in the novel was so powerful that it played out like a film in my mind.

Now that I've finished the book, it's time to watch the adaptation. I'm hoping it won't disappoint. I have high expectations, given how much I enjoyed the novel.

I'm definitely going to read more of Sinclair's works. His writing style and ability to create engaging stories have left a lasting impression on me. I can't wait to explore more of his literary world.

**"Elmer Gantry" by Sinclair Lewis: A Timeless Critique**

Sinclair Lewis's "Elmer Gantry," first published in 1927, is a captivating work of fiction that offers a detailed character study of a corrupt Protestant Christian evangelist. Elmer Gantry is the type of preacher that people despise, with his slippery and conniving ways. He combines the worst qualities of infamous televangelists like Jim and Tammy Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, Peter Popoff, and Jerry Falwell. The novel shows how Gantry leaves a trail of destruction as he ruins lives in his quest for power and personal gain.

Despite the rather unappealing subject matter, Lewis tells the story masterfully. The book is not only a scathing critique of religious hypocrisy but also a commentary on the human lust for power. In the original review, the reader gave it a rating of 7/10. However, upon rereading in 2023, the reviewer was struck by the humor in the story. Living through a period with a detestable figure in the White House, the humor in Lewis's tale became more evident.

The power of Lewis's writing is also remarkable. Even with a few outdated words from the early 20th century, his dialogue and prose sound contemporary to a 21st-century reader. This updated review raises the rating to 7.5/10 and four stars, highlighting the enduring relevance and quality of "Elmer Gantry."