A Big Fan of Lewis for Years

For years, I have been a big fan of Lewis. I have read many of his novels, such as Godseeker, Main Street, Arrowsmith, Babbit, It can't happen here, and so on. Each of these books has had a profound impact on me.

In particular, this book really moved me. As a black man, I found this book quite disturbing. It felt as if what was described in the book was happening right before my eyes. The state of things now in this country and across the world is truly concerning. It is not just happening to black people but also to other minorities. The line between truth and fiction seems to be blurring.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, as well as all of his other works. They offer valuable insights into the human condition and the society we live in. By reading his books, we can gain a better understanding of the world around us and perhaps even take steps to make it a better place.

I have always held in high regard Sinclair Lewis's remarkable talent for deflating the overinflated, self-congratulatory balloons that Americans so often bestow upon themselves. However, "Kingsblood Royal" surpasses his previous works such as "Main Street", "Arrowsmith", "Babbitt", "Dodsworth" and "Elmer Gantry".

The author, a White Minnesota plains boy who received an Ivy League education, the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and a publishing sensation in the 1920s, tackles the race question, both implicit and explicit bias, and white supremacy in "Kingsblood Royal".

If you believe that a great deal has changed, you might want to read this novel, which is written from a unique perspective. After perusing it, you will gain an understanding of who we were in 1947 and you will be able to recognize America as it exists in 2021.

It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that forces us to confront the uncomfortable truths about our past and present.

Sinclair Lewis holds a significant place in American literature as he was the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He is widely recognized for his notable novels such as Babbitt and Main Street. This particular work, however, was penned towards the conclusion of his career. His novels are characterized by a straightforward writing style, which enables quick reading. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the writing seems to lack a certain elegance and can even be described as "reportorial," as I have come across in my readings. Kingsblood Royal delves into the issue of racial prejudice in a small town shortly after World War II. I rated it two stars mainly because it was rather challenging to endure the continuous slurs and slanders throughout the narrative. The characters in the novel do not come across as fully developed individuals but rather as mere props utilized by the author to convey his message. I imagine that it was a highly controversial novel when it was initially published in 1947. Even so, many of the discriminatory practices that Sinclair Lewis pointed out still persist to this very day.

This is an odd 1947 novel penned by Sinclair Lewis. He passed away a few years later, and this stands as one of his final works. At its core, it's a social novel with a distinct "point." However, in addition to delving into the novel's central concept, it meanders considerably. I don't often make this assertion, but this novel should probably be approximately half its current length.

The plot revolves around an American family of Scottish ancestry residing in a moderately sized, established town in the Midwest. The Kingsbloods are wealthy and well-established. The son and heir of the family, who is relatively young and deeply immersed in the banking world, also becomes highly involved in researching the family's ancestry. The underlying idea is that he believes if he can trace his lineage to a noble line, it will enhance their already illustrious status. Well, irony rears its head, and what he discovers instead is that he has a small amount of African-American ancestry. This, of course, throws his entire world into disarray. Employing the concept of the "one drop rule" and taking it to its logical extreme, he now feels compelled to conduct himself as a Black man and abide by the rules of society established for Black men. Well, it's 1947 in America, and as we all know (spoiler alert), society does not treat Black men very well. So, the novel then follows Kingsblood as he navigates this new understanding (or rather, perception) of himself.

This novel is somewhat the opposite of Nella Larsen's novel Passing and is more in line with George Schuyler's novel Black No More (where a Black scientist invents a machine to change black skin to white, flooding the market, so to speak — and was kind of borrowed by Dr Seuss for The Sneetches). The novel is saturated with irony, relatively lacking in artistry, but still an interesting example of a white writer attempting to critique American society for its purposeful stratification.

This article serves as a powerful exposé of a deeply painful and indelible chapter in America's history.

It delves into a past that was almost brutally racist, revealing just how normalized such discriminatory attitudes and behaviors were during that time.

The language employed in the article is truly excellent, painting a vivid and harrowing picture of the era.

However, I did find the ending to be a bit abrupt.

Yet, when considering the nature of racism, which has no happy ending and perhaps no end at all, this abruptness may, in fact, be a fitting choice within the context of the writing.

It leaves the reader with a sense of unease and a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against racism in society.

Overall, the article effectively conveys the gravity of America's racist past and the importance of confronting and addressing this issue today.

When people are actively promoting books that focus on anti-racism, I truly hope that this particular one begins to receive far more attention.

Although it is set in the 1940s, its significance and relevance to today's society are still extremely high. The story revolves around Neil, who embarks on a search for his royal ancestry. However, what he discovers is something rather more ordinary - a dark-skinned ancestor.

This revelation completely upends Neil's life and that of his family. When this information becomes public, his former friends and colleagues suddenly object to his presence, simply because they believe his race has changed.

What I appreciate most about this book is that even the white "heroes" are depicted as having prejudices and making missteps, even when they are ostensibly doing the right thing. Neil's wife, Vestal, stays by his side even when family and friends encourage her to leave.

Nevertheless, she still harbors fairly racist views. This inherent contradiction feels very real to the people I know in my life. They can simultaneously hold both racist and anti-racist views and beliefs and have to consciously reject the racist stereotypes that are constantly fed to us by society and the media.

Without a doubt, this book is definitely worth a read. It offers valuable insights into the complex and often contradictory nature of human attitudes towards race.

I had an English teacher in high school. In the late 60's, she spoke very highly of this book. She carefully explained that it was extremely far ahead of its time when it came to understanding race relations. Moreover, it had the remarkable ability to anticipate their deterioration. Years later, I finally got the chance to read it. And I found myself entirely in agreement with her. Lewis, who had a profound understanding and was able to vividly portray the shallow materialism of American culture, also had some truly remarkable insights into racial problems. These racial problems are sharply dramatized in Kingsblood Royal. Throughout the book, there is a fine and masterful use of irony, which starts right from the very title. It makes the readers think deeply about the complex issues presented and leaves a lasting impression.

I almost abandoned this book just a few chapters in. It appeared to be sarcastic and was rife with outdated racial views from around 1945.

However, the story took an interesting turn when the white, Midwestern central character found out that he was actually 1/32 "Negro". In the eyes of his peers, this made him black, and as a result, he was immediately despised.

The author's portrayal of the main character's transformation to enlightenment was quite subtle. There were many nuances in the choices he had to make along the way.

As the story progresses, we see the main character grappling with his new identity and the challenges that come with it. He has to confront the prejudices and biases of those around him, as well as his own internalized racism.

Despite the initial setbacks, the book ultimately offers a powerful message about the importance of acceptance and understanding. It shows that we are all more alike than we think, and that our differences should not divide us.

Overall, while the book may have some flaws, it is still a worthwhile read for anyone interested in exploring themes of race, identity, and social change.

**Expanded Article**

Kingsblood Royal is a remarkable 1947 novel penned by the renowned American writer Sinclair Lewis. This novel, which was once a best-seller but has now been mostly forgotten, was advertised with the intriguing tagline "the story of a man who resigned from the white race". It tells the captivating tale of a white banker who defies his white destiny by wholeheartedly embracing the 1/32 Negro heritage within him that he has newly discovered.

The protagonist, Neil Kingsblood, is a typical middle-American banker leading a comfortable life. However, his world is turned upside down when he makes the shocking revelation that he has African-American blood while researching his family background. He discovers that he is directly descended from an African adventurer on the American frontier. As a result, Kingsblood loses his banking job and has to settle for a lesser one. Despite the lack of visible black African ancestry, he begins to be treated differently by his former acquaintances. He is now faced with a difficult choice: either continue with what he now perceives as a hollow existence in the white community or embrace the oppressed minority status of the black community.

After Kingsblood shares his newfound ancestry with several white friends, the news spreads like wildfire. He soon realizes that his acquaintances have changed their behavior towards him. He then embarks on a quixotic struggle against the racism that has now become newly apparent and widespread in his community. Since Kingsblood is now considered black, it is illegal for him and his family to live in their home, which is located in a whites-only neighborhood. They are thus forced to move.

Shortly after the publication of Kingsblood Royal, a group of white supremacists took matters into their own hands. They sent a letter to J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI, urging the agency to seize all copies of the book and declare Lewis' novel an act of sedition. Fortunately, their efforts were in vain.

I have read several books on the topic of racism in America, and somehow they are all similar.

The royal blood sets them apart, distinguishing them by the very approach to the theme, the way the author has chosen to present the problems of the black man.

The first part of the book was really interesting and engaging, while the second part was more serious.

This book offers a unique perspective on racism, delving deep into the experiences and struggles of the black community.

It provides valuable insights into the historical and social context that has contributed to the persistence of racism in America.

The author's writing style is vivid and descriptive, making it easy for the reader to empathize with the characters and understand their plight.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about racism in America. It is a thought-provoking and eye-opening read that will leave you with a newfound understanding of this complex and important issue.

I thought this book was truly hilarious. It had me laughing out loud continuously, considering it was about such a serious topic.

Surprisingly, I was the only one in my book club who felt this way. It was as if finding humor in these matters provided a sort of relief.

Moreover, it was extremely eye-opening to realize that we still haven't overcome some of these ridiculous notions of race.

It made me reflect on how deeply ingrained these prejudices are in our society and how much work still needs to be done to achieve true equality.

The author's ability to present such a serious issue in a humorous light was both remarkable and thought-provoking.

It made me see the topic from a different perspective and encouraged me to have more open and honest conversations about race with others.

Overall, I believe this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and often overlooked aspects of race in our world today.

A very strange novel - cutting edge for its time. On one level, this was an attempt by Sinclair Lewis to deal with white attitudes toward race. I read this one in the 1960s. At that time, the social context was quite different, and people's awareness and understanding of racial issues were also in a stage of development. Sinclair Lewis's work was bold and innovative in exploring this sensitive topic.

However, as time has passed, society has changed, and our perspectives on race have also evolved. It is not certain how well this novel holds up today. Some of the ideas and portrayals that were once considered cutting-edge may now seem outdated or even offensive. But still, it is an important piece of literature that reflects the social and cultural atmosphere of a particular era.

Reading this novel again today can give us a better understanding of the historical background and the evolution of racial issues. It can also make us reflect on how far we have come and how much more work there is to be done to achieve true equality and justice for all.