I was extremely delighted when I found a 1929 Grosset and Dunlap hardcover, which is a vintage item. I purchased it for just $4 at McKay in Nashville. However, it's a pity that there is no original paper dustjacket.

The cover art of this edition is different from the picture that was uploaded. The actual cover art of this '29 Grosset features a church silhouette and a really cool embossing on the lower right front.

'Elmer Gantry' was adapted into a very lively and impressive film in 1960, starring Burt Lancaster in a remarkable performance. It was one of my dad's all-time favorite movies. Since Lewis' 'Main Street' had such a profound impact on me, I'm really eager to explore the author's typically acerbic criticism of ignorant Americana once again. Trump's actions seem to prove that things haven't really improved in this regard.

I was well aware before delving into this book that it was a satirical attack on the hypocrisy of American Christians. Given its status as a classic, I decided to endure it with gritted teeth and accept whatever came my way.

I assume that the critiques Lewis made against the church were more novel and scandalous back then. However, over time, they have become so common as tropes and clichés that they have perhaps lost some of their emotional and satirical punch, although their relevance may still remain. Elmer is indeed a highly reprehensible character, a hypocritical buffoon and a charlatan of the utmost degree. While he effectively serves Lewis' purposes, he is not a protagonist that a reader is eager to follow for an extended period. I found the first third of the book really captivating, but my interest gradually waned towards the final third. Overall, it was just an average read.

A truly classic satirical novel, it documents the American evangelical movement of the 1920's. The book skillfully skewers the relationship between Big Money and Organized Religion. One can easily understand why this novel created such a public furor. Sinclair Lewis further added to the controversy when he defied God from the pulpit, challenging God to strike him dead within 15 minutes.

The novel is filled with dozens of well-written fictional characters. Among them, the 'Sharon Falconer' character is based on elements of the Canadian born evangelical career of Aimee Semple McPherson.

I simply can't recommend this one enough!! It offers a unique and incisive look into a particular era and the complex web of relationships and issues that existed within it. The vivid characters and the bold satire make it a must-read for anyone interested in American history, religion, or literature.

It has been a considerable amount of time since I last watched the movie, yet the character has always held a great deal of intrigue for me. Burt Lancaster won the Academy Award for best actor, and his performance was truly one of the very best. As a result, I had a strong desire to listen to the book. The movie only encompasses approximately the middle third of the story. There is a vast amount more content in the novel. However, as I recall it, in the movie, Elmer Gantry was somewhat of a mysterious character who was difficult to fathom. He shifted back and forth between appearing to be sincere and being blatantly hypocritical. In the novel, he is a complete narcissist. He does indeed vacillate between moments of desiring to be sincere in his faith and engaging in great hypocrisy, but the bottom line is that everything revolves around him and his own glory. What most strikingly comes through is Lewis' intense hatred of virtually any form of Christianity. He seemingly has a modicum of tolerance for liberals and higher critics, but he has absolutely no respect for revivalists, fundamentalists, or Biblical Christianity. He reminds me of someone such as Christopher Hitchens.

It is fascinating to explore the differences between the movie and the novel, and to see how the character of Elmer Gantry is portrayed in each. The movie gives us a certain perspective, while the novel delves deeper into his complex personality and the author's views on religion.