BookRags.com Literature Guides Literature Guides Criticism/Essays Criticism/Essays Biographies Biographies My Bibliography Periodic Table U.S. Presidents Shakespeare Sonnet Shake-Up
Research Anything:        
History | Encyclopedias | Films | News | Create a Bibliography | More... Login | Register | Help

Search "Harry Sinclair Lewis"

Biographies Navigation
 

Harry Sinclair Lewis Biography

Print-Friendly  Order the PDF version  Order the RTF version
About 40 pages (11,843 words)
Sinclair Lewis Summary

Bookmark and Share

Encyclopedia of World Biography on Harry Sinclair Lewis (page 2)

For three decades Lewis was an important public figure whose movements and statements were news. His books topped the best-seller lists. He sought, was offered, loudly refused, and then won the important prizes, snubbing the Pulitzer but seeking and happily accepting the Nobel as the first American to win that award in literature. To the Pulitzer committee he addressed a widely published and discussed letter of rejection of the prize for Arrowsmith (his motive was his stillsmoldering anger that the choice of Main Street as winner five years before had been vetoed by a senior panel). On the occasion of the Nobel ceremony, he made a memorable address explaining, defending, and touting American writers. He was in some ways an outrageous figure who, as T. K. Whipple said, bestrode his nation like a Red Indian.

Lewis created a stock company of characters who were targeted over and over in his satires: political reactionaries, fund-raisers, doctors, Rotarians, braggarts, con men, idlers, racial bigots, nagging women, professors, preachers. He portrayed heroic figures—his pioneers, workers, doers, and worthy wives. He gave us commanding examples of hypocrisy, in reproductions of doublespeak long before Orwell, in mockery of editorials, oratory, gossip, table talk, ads, religious harangues, whining, and boosterism.

This is a free page. This page contains 190 words. This biography contains 11,843 words (approx. 39 pages at 300 words per page).

Read the rest of this Biography with our Harry Sinclair Lewis Access Pass.

More Information
  • View Harry Sinclair Lewis Study Pack
  • Search Results for "Harry Sinclair Lewis"
  • Add This to Your Bibliography
  • Take the Free IQ Test on BookRags!
  • More Products on This Subject
    Harry Sinclair Lewis
    Although Harry Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) was the most celebrated American literary figure of the 1... more

    (Harry) Sinclair Lewis
    The career of Sinclair Lewis is impressive in its presumption, range, and achievement. He undertook... more


     
    Copyrights
    Harry Sinclair Lewis from Encyclopedia of World Biography. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.

    Join BookRagslearn moreJoin BookRags


    About BookRags | Customer Service | Report an Error | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy