His next important book, elmer gantry 1927, was an attack on the ignorant. Sinclair lewis worldfamous satire of religious hypocrisy and the excesses of the. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The first edition of the novel was published in 1927, and was written by sinclair lewis. Lewis finished the book while mending a broken leg on jackfish island in rainy lake, minnesota.
The book was published in multiple languages including french, consists of 352 pages and is available in paperback format. Elmer gantry is considered a landmark american novel and one of the most penetrating studies of hypocrisy in modern literature. Sinclair lewis books list of books by author sinclair lewis. But he found the sentiments in the tract useful in his sermon, and the thirty dimes he spent for lovely photographs of burlesque ladies. First edition, second issue of lewis controversial bestseller, signed by him on the front pastedown. Next lewis published elmer gantry 1927, which depicted an evangelical minister as deeply hypocritical. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Elmer gantry is a really well written novel authored by sinclair lewis in the 1920s. Elmer gantry never knew who set him thirty dimes, wrapped in a tract about holiness, nor why. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power within his churcha saver of souls who lives a life of duplicity, sensuality, and ruthless selfindulgenceis also the record. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of elmer gantry by sinclair lewis.
Elmer gantry download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Novel by sinclair lewis, a satiric indictment of fundamentalist religion that caused an uproar upon its publication in 1927. 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. The novel was denounced by many religious leaders and banned in some u. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis penguin random house canada. Published in 1926, this is the story of a professional good man, a preacher and pastor in those first. It portrays the evangelistic activity that was common in 1920s america as well as attitudes toward it. Maybe they even read to the second chapter, like me, and note that six. It is the story about a young man who becomes a successful preacher in a very cynical manner. Fellow that couldnt believe the bible, least he could do was not to disturb the. In elmer gantry, sinclair lewis uses the character of elmer gantry to represent, without nuance or ambiguity, what he viewed as the prototypical evangelical minister of his day. Elmer gantry is a novel that presents aspects of the religious activity of america in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. Film clip courtesy of mgm consumer productssee all videos for this article. The title character of elmer gantry starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of a large methodist congregation.
The title character of elmer gantry starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of. It might have been supposed that lewis s form of sociological realism, in which he wove innumerable details from contemporary life into his narrative, would date badly and that his books. Elmer gantry, novel by sinclair lewis, a satiric indictment of. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power within his churcha saver of souls who lives a life of hypocrisy, sensuality, and ruthless self. The story is set in the middle united states and begins in the early twentieth century. Published in 1926, elmer gantry is a classic fiction novel by sinclair lewis. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the. Sinclair lewis, quote from elmer gantry eddie fislingers church was an octagonal affair, with the pulpit in one angle, an arrangement which produced a fascinating, rather dizzy effect, reminiscent of. Today universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry scandalized readers when it was first published, causing sinclair lewis to be. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power within his churcha saver of souls who lives a life of duplicity, sensuality, and ruthless selfindulgenceis also the record of. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry. Sinclair lewis worldfamous satire of religious hypocrisy and the excesses of the roaring. Elmer gantry and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
Free download or read online elmer gantry pdf epub book. I first read it some years ago during the height of the televangelist scandals, and while the 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. 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. 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. In my opinion, elmer gantry is sinclair lewis finest novel, and thats saying a lot. Studies suggest that people load their new ereaders with cheap classics, consuming them in the commercial sense, but not necessarily reading them.
For the better part of a century, the title of sinclair lewis s phenomenally successful and often reviled novel elmer gantry 1927 has been a byword for religious fraud and bunk evangelism. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis, first edition abebooks. Elmer gantry is often likely an aspirational purchase for some who recognize lewis name, and think theyll get to it someday. 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. Today 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.
Pdf elmer gantry book by sinclair lewis free download. 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. See all books authored by sinclair lewis, including it cant happen here, and main street, and more on. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer ga. The book has been awarded with audie award for literary fiction. The story of aaron gadd, the godseeker, a powerful figure in the mold of elmer gantry sinclair lewis published by popular library 1962. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are.