Arrowsmith (ePub)

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. Born on February 7, 1885, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, Lewis began his literary career with a series of minor works before achieving significant acclaim with 'Main Street' in 1920. Known for his incisive social criticism, Lewis dissected the hypocrisies and shortcomings of American middle-class life, employing sharp satire and realism. In 'Arrowsmith' (1925), Lewis explored the life and career of a young, idealistic doctor navigating the ethical complexities of the medical field and the corruption of institutional science. This novel, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, though Lewis declined it, is often regarded as one of his finest, illustrating both the promise and shortfalls of the American Dream through its protagonist, Martin Arrowsmith. Lewis continued to expound upon societal issues in subsequent works such as 'Babbitt' (1922), 'Elmer Gantry' (1927), and 'Dodsworth' (1929), which further solidified his status as a formidable voice in American literature. In 1930, Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized 'for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters.' His literary style combined a robust narrative with penetrating social observation, earning him a place among the early 20th century's most distinguished authors.