Although elmer is not a very nice person and he only becomes worse as he grows in power and. The book was banned in boston and other cities and denounced from hundreds. Within our class, we have discussed main street 1920 and the movie elmer gantry 1960, based on lewiss book by the same title 1927. American novelist sinclair lewis published elmer gantry. Sinclair lewis, the first american to win the nobel prize for literature, applied subversive satire and razor wit in his portrayals of american life. Even the hollywoodization of sinclair lewis elmer gantry couldnt cover up all the hypocrisy of organized religion that lewis gleefully portrayed in his book. Jim had a resolute tenor, and as to elmer gantry, even more than his bulk, his thick black hair, his venturesome black eyes, you remembered that arousing barytone. Published in 1926, this is the story of a professional good man, a preacher and pastor in those first. This was the apogee of his literary career, and in the period from ann vickers 1933 to the posthumously published world so wide 1951 lewis wrote ten novels that reveal the progressive decline of his creative powers. Regardless, this movie stands the test of time, because the human condition regarding religion hasnt changed. It isnt what you earn but how spend it that fixes your class. His next important book, elmer gantry 1927, was an attack on the ignorant.
Elmer gantry by lewis, sinclair and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. His works are best known for their perceptive and critical views of american free enterprise and materialism. In 1930, following elmer gantry 1927 and dodsworth 1929, sinclair lewis became the first american author to be awarded the nobel prize for distinction in world. The title character starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of a large methodist congregation. It did not hesitate in its condemnation of his charlatanry, his lusts. Burt lancaster and jean simmons in elmer gantry 1960. Buy the mass market paperback book elmer gantry by sinclair lewis at indigo. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american author. Elmer gantry is a 1960 american drama film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to smalltown america. This satirical story about a biblethumping charlatan still annoys evangelical. In particular, elmer gantry is a perfect study of hypocrisy and rationalization in action. In 1930, lewis became the first american author to win the nobel prize in literature. Light marks on pastedowns where items previously removed, corner creases to few pages, otherwise very good to near fine lacking dust jacket. Bookplate with keats quote, the poetry of earth is never dead, on front endpaper.
Discussion of themes and motifs in sinclair lewis elmer gantry. I first read it some years ago during the height of the televangelist scandals, and while the turnofthecentury vernacular seemed a bit quaint, the story itself was as fresh as the daily headlinesso topical that for a while there i regarded lewis as something of a prophet. A first edition, first printing of elmer gantry by sinclair lewis. Sinclair lewis 1885 1951 sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist and playwright born harry sinclair lewis in sauk centre, minnesota, he began reading books at a young age and kept a diary. Lewiss depiction of elmer and his immersion in the evangelical world is the strongest aspect of the book. Pdf elmer gantry book by sinclair lewis free download. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the. A new york times article from 2008 described elmer gantrys seventeenyear search for a full production as filled with bad luck, horrible road trips, hatinhand humiliations, hubris. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the religious activity of america in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. This tale of a hypocritical preacher who prefers money, booze and women over saving souls is today considered a classic. Published in 1926, this is the story of a professional good man, a preacher and pastor in those first decades of the 20th century before the great depression. Lewis finished the book while mending a broken leg on jackfish island in rainy lake, minnesota.
Donald brace, in anticipation of the demand for the book that attacked the high collar, ordered the printer to produce 140,000 copies of the first edition, the largest initial printing ever made in the history of book printing pastore. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are. On publication in 1927, elmer gantry created a public furor. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, shirley jones and patti page elmer gantry was nominated for five academy awards in 1961, including best. Elmer gantry has even been made into a new opera, with a score by robert aldridge and a libretto by herschel garfein, that recently premiered in nashville.
Published in 1926, elmer gantry is a classic fiction novel by sinclair lewis. Location 52 at that point, i knew then that the book would make for one fascinating read. The first edition of the novel was published in 1927, and was written by sinclair lewis. Set in the 1920s, the novel is a satire of american religious attitudes at the time. Robert aldridges opera elmer gantry, adapted from sinclair lewiss 1927 satire of evangelism, has become the poster child for how nearly impossible it is to get a new work produced by an american opera company. Elmer gantry, a flawed preacher for the ages elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis in a bestselling 1927 novel and continues. Buy a cheap copy of arrowsmith elmer gantry dodsworth book by sinclair lewis. Shirley jones oscar winning performance in elmer gantry. A dreamer, at age he unsuccessfully ran away from home, wanting to become a drummer boy in the spanishamerican war. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk. He was cheered to see that there was no trace of his indiscretion. Fellow that couldnt believe the bible, least he could do was not to disturb the. Free download or read online elmer gantry pdf epub book.
Arrowsmith elmer gantry dodsworth book by sinclair lewis. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry scandalized readers when it was first published, causing sinclair lewis to be invited to a jail cell in new hampshire and to his own lynching in virginia. Elmer gantry, as the title suggests, is an most insincere and hypocritical preacher of the faith. Mannie silverhorn awoke at ten, with a head, he remembered that he had been talking, and with agitation he looked at the mornings advocatetimes. Once youve finished the book, resolve anew to stand up to anyone who would brazenly assault all that. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. The book was published in multiple languages including french, consists of 352 pages and is available in paperback format. Sales were further stimulated when boston banned it and the evangelist billy sunday dubbed lewis satans cohort a satire of american religious life, elmer gantry may be seen as a cautionary tale for born again america parker, 12122. In 1930, following elmer gantry 1927 and dodsworth 1929, sinclair lewis became the first american author to be awarded the nobel prize for distinction in world literature. Written at the height of his powers in the 1920s, the three novels in this volume continue the vigorous unmasking of american middleclass life begun by sinclair. Over the past few weeks, ive enjoyed sinclair lewis novel elmer gantry as an audio book, beautifully read by anthony heald and it took me a while to figure. Elmer gantry is the portrait of a silvertongued evangelist who rises to power within his church, yet lives a life of hypocrisy, sensuality, and ruthless selfindulgence.
The sentence that followed interested me even further. In this essay, aubrey discusses how lewiss characterization in elmer gantry serves his satiric purpose institutionalized religion has attracted its fair share of satirical assaults in its time, but elmer gantry must surely rank as the most savage in american literature. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power. Sinclair lewis as set down in the good book elmer gantry in which this author of the early 20th century condemns organized religion, most notably the baptist church. Time magazine named what film based on a lewis book 1 of the 100 best movies in the past 80 years. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer and playwright. Sinclair lewis worldfamous satire of religious hypocrisy and the excesses of the roaring.
Between the publication of main street and elmer gantry, lewis published his two of his seminal works, babbit 1922 and arrowsmith 1925. Over the past few weeks, ive enjoyed sinclair lewis novel elmer gantry as an audio book, beautifully read by anthony heald and it took me a while to figure out why. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis goodreads share book. Elmer gantry and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Book is bound in blue clothcovered boards with orange title. Elmer gantry ist ein sozialkritischer entwicklungsroman des literaturnobelpreistragers sinclair lewis aus dem jahr 1927. In lightly worn dust jacket with a tiny circular piece cut away from front flap price. Book has light edgewear and a adiagonal water mark on the back cover. Elmer gantry, novel by sinclair lewis, a satiric indictment of. In my opinion, elmer gantry is sinclair lewis finest novel, and thats saying a lot.
Second issue, with gantry on book spine corrected from cantry. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis, first edition abebooks. Elmer and jim lefferts retired to a table to nourish the long, rich, chocolate strains suitable to drunken melody. Elmer gantry musiker eigentlich dave terry, britischer musiker, siehe stretch band. Elmer gantry opens with a short shot of chapter 1 of the novel, im not sure if this implies a loyal reproduction, but since one of the criticisms i heard of this film is that it vulgarizes the. Arrowsmith, elmer gantry, dodsworth is kept in print by a gift from john logan to the guardians of american letters fund. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. First edition, first state with gantry spelled cantry on the spine of the cloth of the nobel prizewinning authors controversial bestseller and basis for the academy awardwinning film. In 1930, he became the first writer from the united states and the first from the americas to receive the nobel prize in literature, which was awarded for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters. Harry sinclair lewis 18851951 appears twice on this list, the first time in 1921 for his novel mainstreet. Today universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry scandalized readers when it was first published, causing sinclair lewis to be. This library of america series edition is printed on acidfree paper and features smythsewn binding, a full cloth cover, and a ribbon marker.
Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually renounces tobacco and alcohol and chasing women. Eighty years after the book and almost 50 years since the movie, elmer gantrys name still. Take his speech from ingersoll, that rotten old atheist that saidwell, anyway, he criticized the bible and everything. Elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis in a bestselling. A collection of critical essays, no novel in the history of american literature outraged its audience so completely, and very few novels in american literature had a larger immediate audience. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis literary apothecary. The book, it may be recalled, followed elmer gantry all over the country for a long period of time. Publication date 1927 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. Lewis took a daring stand, and his work brought about the deconstruction of the myth regarding smalltown america. Wed get sick on too many cookies, but ever so much sicker on no cookies at all.
This was followed by the two novels considered by many to be his finest, babbitt 1922 and arrowsmith 1925, which was awarded the pulitzer prize in 1926, but declined by lewis. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer ga. Elmer gantrys velvet opera, at various times also known as velvet opera, was a british rock band active in the late 1960s. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The spine has the elmer gantry misspelled with a c, indicating that it is a first edition. The book features a blue cloth bound hardcover, was published by harcourt, brace and company, and ed in 1929. For over a year now it had been murmured through the churchworld that no speaker was more useful to the reform organization than the rev.
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