Sinclair Lewis - Ultimate Collection (ePub)

Sinclair Lewis, hailed as a preeminent figure in 20th-century American literature, was born Harry Sinclair Lewis on February 7, 1885, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He pursued his education at Yale University before working in various literary capacities, including as an editor and freelance writer. Lewis etched his name in the annals of American literature with his keen social commentary and satirical depiction of contemporary society. His works often criticized materialism, conformity, and the absence of intellectual rigor among the middle class. 'Main Street' (1920), a critique of small-town life, and 'Babbitt' (1922), a satire on the American commercial culture, are among his most acclaimed novels. Lewis's 'Arrowsmith' (1925), which explores the life and career of a physician, earned him the Pulitzer Prize, which he declined. He was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930, becoming the first American writer to receive the honor. Lewis's proficiency was not only in novels but also extended to short stories and plays, which were compiled posthumously in the 'Sinclair Lewis - Ultimate Collection.' His literary style was characterized by sharp wit, robust characterizations, and an unyielding dedication to social issues, even at the expense of widespread popularity. An early practitioner of naturalist and realist narratives, Lewis deeply influenced the American literary space before his death on January 10, 1951. His legacy endures as a novelist who unmasked the pretensions of a rapidly evolving American society.