Showing results by author "Sinclair Lewis" in All Categories

"Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis presents a biting satire of middle-class American life in the 1920s, exploring conformity, ambition, and the hollowness of societal expectations. This podcast delves into the life of George Babbitt, a prosperous businessman whose comfortable life begins to unravel as he questions the values of success and happiness. It's a fascinating critique of consumerism, materialism, and the American Dream.

The Pulitzer Prize novel describes the tradeoffs between medical research & money making & much more.

At thirty-four, Mr. Wrenn is a humble sales-entry clerk at the Souvenir Company, often found hunched over bills and columns of figures in his inconspicuous blue ready-made suits. Despite his meek demeanor and small, unsuccessful mustache, Mr. Wrenn possesses a vibrant inner life fueled by his imagination. When he unexpectedly inherits a modest sum, he feels compelled to break free from his routine and embark on a journey of self-discovery. What follows is a series of adventures that reveal life to be far more captivating than he ever envisioned... (Introduction by Don Jenkins)

In this series we explore the many facets of love through literary talents that span both time and country. When two people meet, when eyes glance and lock. And we often say something ‘clicks’; ‘it feels like I’ve known you forever’. Romance begins to brew and to blossom. In this volume our masterful writers take on the task of describing and revealing the beginnings of a romance, and some may even lead to love.

Claire Boltwood and her father drive their Gomez-Dep roadster from Minnesota to Seattle, exposing themselves to all the perils of early motoring. They encounter the upper-crust Boltwoods who are at once more noble and more insignificant. Other class barriers exist between Claire and a mechanic named Milt, who, along with his cat, follows close behind.

An early 20th century American story written in the Theodore Dreiser style of each word and chapter building on the previous ones, telling the saga of evangelical religion & people with irony throughout.

A biting satire that countered the American myth of wholesome small-town life with a depiction of narrow-minded provincialism, it was to some degree based on Lewis's own experience of growing on Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Set in mid-1910s, it depicts the struggles of Carol Kennicott, a city girl, as she tries to adapt to small town life, having left her librarian job and St. Paul, Minnesota to marry Dr. Will Kennicott of Gopher Prairie. Dismayed by the town’s drabness and the conforming, petty inhabitants, Carol optimistically sets out to improve the town.

This epic of the booming 20s captures the relentless culture of American business. A classic novel about conformity in small town America - celebrated for its comic tone, statire, and vivid dialogue. L.A. Theatre Works, then a fledgling radio theatre company, completed Babbitt in 1989. This production was so well received that L.A. Theatre Works has since become the world's premiere radio theatre company.

In this series we explore the many facets of love through literary talents that span both time and country. Love comes in many forms, many shades and many hues. There is one though that society wants more than any other and it is now part of our culture. Yes, the Happy Ending.

Babbitt is largely a satire of American culture, society, and behaviour, with its main theme focusing on the power of conformity, and the vacuity of middle-class American life.

We travel with The Hawk, or Carl Ericson, son of Norwegian immigrants, born at the end of the 19th century, through the first three adventurous periods of the young man's life. We see him as an adventurous boy, running away with Gertie Cowels, the girl that lives in the big house in the better part of town, only to be rescued by Bone Stillman, a backwoods philosopher and influence on Carl. He leaves his childhood, Gertie and Joralemon behind, for a short attempt at higher education, then to pursue the hobo life, a Bowery bartender, an engineer in Panama, and an aviator.

Despite the traditional expectations of marriage placed on Una Golden in her small Pennsylvania town, she travels to New York to work due to a family illness. But once there, Una discovers a talent for the traditional male bastion of commercial real estate. However, while her company claims to value her work, Una struggles to achieve the same status of her male coworkers. Her unique role as a working woman, doing a man’s job, becomes a challenge in finding an appropriate suitor when Una decides it is time to marry after all.

This classic satirical novel portrays Babbitt as a materialistic, hypocritical, and self-important middle-aged realtor. His brief romantic encounter and an attempt at liberalism are curbed by fear of criticism, forcing him to conform to the wills of his fellow citizens and club members.

Dive into the world of Arrowsmith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from 1926 that follows the journey of a brilliant medical student who evolves into a dedicated medical researcher in bustling New York. His life takes a dramatic turn when a devastating plague drives him to a Caribbean island, where he works tirelessly to develop sera and conduct vital research. Along the way, he encounters a cast of intriguing characters—some who challenge him professionally, others who touch his heart romantically. The striking parallels between the epidemic in this story and the pandemic of the 2020s lend a...

Sinclair Lewis’ George F. Babbitt is a complicated and conflicted character. When you think you have his next move figured out, he surprises you. As you begin to like him, he does something to evoke the “what a rat” response. Male menopause wasn’t a pre-Great Depression term, but you could say George has all the symptoms....

Join Mike Vendetti, also known as Miketheauctioneer, as he brings to life Sinclair Lewis’ second novel, Trail of the Hawk. Although it didnt achieve the immediate acclaim of his later masterpieces like Babbitt and Elmer Gantry, this work showcases Lewis unique style and remarkable talent. Follow the journey of Carl Ericson, affectionately known as The Hawk, the son of Norwegian immigrants born at the close of the 19th century. Experience his adventurous youth as he escapes with Gertie Cowels, the girl from the affluent part of town, only to be rescued by Bone Stillman, a backwoods ...

In Main Street, we follow the journey of Carol Milford, a spirited and progressive young woman from the vibrant city of Minneapolis. After marrying Will Kennicott, a devoted doctor with small-town roots, she relocates to the conservative and unrefined Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. Faced with the towns physical and cultural limitations, Carols initial shock transforms into a fierce determination to bring about change and challenge the status quo. Will she succeed in her quest to reshape her new home, or will the towns traditions prove too strong?

In Sinclair Lewis groundbreaking novel, Main Street, we follow the journey of Carol Milford, a bright and ambitious young woman armed with a college education and a passion for progress. A self-sufficient librarian in St. Paul, she is swept off her feet by Will Kennicott, a country doctor who persuades her to leave her urban life behind for the rural town of Gopher Prairie. With dreams of transforming the town into a hub of art, culture, and child welfare, Carol is met with the harsh realities of small-town attitudes, ignorance, and bigotry that gradually stifle her spirit. First published in ...

The Job is an early masterpiece by American novelist Sinclair Lewis, serving as a groundbreaking declaration of the rights of working women. The narrative follows Una Golden, a determined young woman striving to carve out her own professional identity while navigating the societal pressures of marriage in the early 1900s. From her humble beginnings in a small Pennsylvania town to the bustling streets of New York City, Unas journey is sparked by a family crisis that compels her to work. She discovers her aptitude for the male-dominated world of commercial real estate, earning respect in her ...

“Mr. and Mrs. Seth Appleby, though nearing the twilight of their years, still found joy in the simplest of gestures—holding hands and cuddling in the corners of their home. Seth, a man with a youthful spirit, cleverly navigates the annual challenge of securing two weeks off from his job at the shoe store to escape to Uncle Joe Tubbs farmhouse on Cape Cod. This year, however, their vacation takes an unexpected turn as they embark on a delightful scheme to open a charming country tea room. Little do they know, their lives are about to transform in ways they never imagined…” (Introduction...