Classic Authors: Sinclair Lewis

At 17, Sinclair entered Oberlin Academy, where he soon became homesick. He left the school, and continued his education at Yale University. Not only did he pursue his studies, but he also worked off and on as a newspaper reporter and drama critic. He also served as editor of Yale’s literary magazine. During the summers, he worked several jobs, including becoming a crewman on several cattleboats. Sinclair graduated from Yale in 1908.

After graduation, Sinclair spent many years traveling and working in various literary positions. He also continued to write. In 1912, he published his first book, Hike and the Aeroplane. This novel was followed by Our Mr. Wrenn(1914) and The Trail of the Hawk(1915), both of which earned him favorable reviews, but no genuine distinguishment. That would all change, however, with the publication of Main Street in 1920. The book became an instant success, attracting praise from other writers, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sherwood Anderson, Upton Sinclair, Willa Cather, H.L. Mencken and others. His success continued with the publications of Babbitt(1922), Arrowsmith(1925), and Mantrap(1926). In the 1930s, Sinclair became interested in the theater, and spent much time acting, directing and writing plays. His writing seemed to decline after the 1930s, although his It Can’t Happen Here, a disturbing story about Fascism engulfing the U.S., is a notable exception. In all, he wrote 22 novels and many articles, poems, plays and essays.

Although Sinclair Lewis declared, “All prizes, like all titles, are dangerous,” he earned his share of awards. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize twice, and declined it when he finally did win. In 1930, he accepted the Nobel Prize for Literature.

In his constant pursuit of adventure, Sinclair seemed to find it difficult to settle down. He married twice and divorced twice, fathering two sons in the process. Toward the end of his life, he contented himself with a long-term girlfriend, who later married someone else. He also struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout his career.

Sinclair Lewis died on January 9, 1951, in Rome. His body was cremated; the ashes are buried in a family plot at Greenwood Cemetery, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Sites and Sources on the Web:

The Sinclair Lewis Society at http://lilt.ilstu.edu/separry/lewisbio.h...

The Robinson Research World of Knowledge at http://www.robinsonresearch.com/LITERATE...

Additional sources:

“Chronology” from Literary Classics of the United States, Inc.’s 1992 volume of Main Street and Babbitt, New York, N.Y.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic