Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the. He had, in fact, got everything from the church and sunday school, except, perhaps, any longing whatever for decency and kindness and reason. Bethancourt, who recently watched a dvd of the 1960 film version of elmer gantry. Little booklearning had andrew pengilly in his youth, and to this day. Thanks to gantrys enthusiastic hellfireandbrimstone sermons, sister sharons operation rises to fame and fortune, enough so that sharon realizes her dream of building her own enormous. A 1970 broadway musical adaptation, titled gantry, opened and closed on the same night, february 14, 1970. On publication in 1927, elmer gantry created a public furor. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. 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. And whoever thought back in the 1960s when i was young that the religious right.
According to mark schorer, in his introduction to sinclair lewis. A first edition, first printing of elmer gantry by sinclair lewis. The story is set in the middle united states and begins in the early twentieth century. The 1960 film of the same name starred burt lancaster as gantry and jean simmons as sister sharon falconer. 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. May 20, 20 harry sinclair lewis 18851951 appears twice on this list, the first time in 1921 for his novel mainstreet. 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. The legal profession does not suit the unethical gantry, who then becomes a notorious and cynical alcoholic. This satirical story about a biblethumping charlatan still annoys evangelical christians, because its still spoton. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually. This book, written early in the 20th century and considered a classic, is still a relevant. With burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, dean jagger.
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. 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. Thanks to gantry s enthusiastic hellfireandbrimstone sermons, sister sharon s operation rises to fame and fortune, enough so that sharon. Feb 22, 2014 official video content provided by mgm home entertainment or one of it s authorized agents. Elmer and jim lefferts retired to a table to nourish the long, rich, chocolate strains suitable to drunken melody. Sinclair lewiss 1927 fictional portrait of a bogus and amoral itinerant midwestern. 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. Lewis believed the hypocritical world of religion needed to be brought forward, and he did so in a harsh way. Thanks to this bestselling novel and the 1960 film, elmer gantry is synonymous today with the sort of evangelical huckster whos familiar to. When hedonistic but charming con man elmer gantry meets the beautiful sister sharon falconer, a roadside revivalist, he feigns piousness to join her act as a passionate preacher. 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. Elmer gantry burt lancaster, a drunken, dishonest street preacher allegedly patterned on billy sunday, wrangles a job with the travelling tent ministry conducted by sister sharon falconer jean. Lewis finished the book while mending a broken leg on jackfish island in rainy lake, minnesota.
He was furious when the lithuanian maid came in and said, somebody on the phone, doctor, but when he heard hettie the. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 and published by harcourt in march 1927. Arrowsmith, elmer gantry, dodsworth by sinclair lewis at indigo. Elmer gantry enhanced its authors reputation among critics and thus contributed to his. But he found the sentiments in the tract useful in his sermon, and the thirty dimes he spent for lovely photographs of burlesque ladies.
Sinclair lewis worldfamous satire of religious hypocrisy and the excesses of the roaring. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by lewis in 1926 and published by harcourt in march 1927. Between the publication of main street and elmer gantry, lewis published his two of his seminal works, babbit 1922 and arrowsmith 1925. 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 self. 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. The book was banned in boston and other cities and denounced from hundreds. 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. Elmer gantry 1927 aroused intense controversy with its brutal depiction of a hypocritical preacher in relentless pursuit of worldly pleasure and power. Published in 1926, this is the story of a professional good man, a preacher and pastor in those first.
The book was adapted for the broadway stage in 1934 by sidney. From elmer gantrys relations to lulu bains, from harry zenzs almost frank hint that he was an atheist, frank perceived that a preacher can be a scoundrel or a hypocrite and still be accepted by his congregation. Bains in richard brookss 1960 film adaptation of sinclair lewiss elmer gantry. Arrowsmith elmer gantry dodsworth book by sinclair lewis. 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. The book features a blue cloth bound hardcover, was published by harcourt, brace and company, and ed in 1929. Elmer gantry never knew who set him thirty dimes, wrapped in a tract about holiness, nor why. Two evenings after elmers mother had almost alienated him, he settled down in his study at home to prepare three or four sermons, with a hope of being in bed by eleven. Composed in 2007, the opera receives an excellent performance from the milwaukee symphony orchestra, the. It is the story about a young man who becomes a successful preacher in a very cynical manner. The book related gantrys picaresque wanderings from one ministry to another, always. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer, and playwright.
For the better part of a century, the title of sinclair lewiss phenomenally successful and often reviled novel elmer gantry 1927 has been a. Discussion of themes and motifs in sinclair lewis elmer gantry. He never said anything important, and he always said it sonorously. Elmer gantry, 1927 pagination from the bison book paperback edition he was born to be a senator. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power. 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. His father, grandfather, and older brother were all smalltown doctors.
See more ideas about sinclair lewis, elmer gantry and books. Through his satiric examination of evangelical religion, lewis captures the growing cultural and political tension during the 1920s between the forces of secularism and fundamentalism. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis, first edition abebooks. 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. Both the show and their relationship are threatened, however, when one of gantrys exlovers decides that she has a score to settle with. 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. Harry sinclair lewis 18851951 appears twice on this list, the first time in 1921 for his novel mainstreet. Elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis in a bestselling.
The novel tells the story of a young, narcissistic, womanizing college athlete who abandons his early ambition to become a lawyer. Lancaster portrayed the title character, a charlatan evangelist who joins a ministry headed by. For the better part of a century, the title of sinclair lewiss phenomenally successful and often reviled novel elmer gantry 1927 has been a byword for religious fraud and bunk evangelism. A dreamer, at age he unsuccessfully ran away from home, wanting to become a drummer boy in the spanish. In 1930, lewis became the first american author to win the nobel prize in literature. 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.
Unsurprisingly, the book and the author were not very popular. Thanks to this bestselling novel and the 1960 film, elmer gantry is synonymous today with the sort of evangelical huckster who s familiar to americans and the world, but when sinclair lewis wrote it in 1927, it shocked the country with its cynical depiction of american religion. 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. Eighty years after the book and almost 50 years since the movie, elmer gantrys name still. 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. His next important book, elmer gantry 1927, was an attack on the ignorant. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually renounces tobacco and alcohol and chasing women. Pawley later of big town fame as elmer gantry and vera allen as sister sharon falconer. Elmer gantry is a really well written novel authored by sinclair lewis in the 1920s. 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. A dreamer, at age he unsuccessfully ran away from home, wanting to become a drummer boy in the spanishamerican war. Second issue, with gantry on book spine corrected from cantry. 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.
The willow walk is a short story by sinclair lewis. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, short story writer and playwright. Home library life 41 new ideas vintage toys 1960s, vintage childrens books, antique. In 1930, he became the first writer from the united states to receive the n. Elmer gantry, novel by sinclair lewis, a satiric indictment of. Battling against god in his book elmer gantry, sinclair lewis novel was about an alcoholic evangelist who would sleep with any woman he could. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry. May 15, 2014 elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by lewis in 1926 and published by harcourt in march 1927. The spine has the elmer gantry misspelled with a c, indicating that it is a first edition. Elmer gantry, as the title suggests, is an most insincere and hypocritical preacher of the faith. 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. Elmer gantry in novel and opera after listening to a new recording of an opera, elmer gantry by robert aldridge with a libretto by herschel garfein, i wanted to read the famous 1927 novel by sinclair lewis on which the opera was based. Dec 04, 2007 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. Elmer gantry signet classics by sinclair lewis, mark schorer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
This tale of a hypocritical preacher who prefers money, booze and women over saving souls is today considered a classic. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 that presents. Sinclair lewis biography life, story, history, wife. Elmer gantry was made into a lively and impressive film in 1960 starring burt. Sinclair lewis as set down in the good book elmer gantry in which this author. Born harry sinclair lewis in sauk centre, minnesota, he began reading books at a young age and kept a diary. All the while i was reading lewiss satirical account of evangelism in the american heartland of the early 20th century, i kept wondering how a screenwriter would manage the timeline. A little story about the bad old days is illustrative. This nobel prize winning author died in a clinic near rome from alcoholism. In 1927, american novelist sinclair lewis published elmer gantry. Harry sinclair lewis was born in sauk centre, minnesota, on february 7, 1885, the third son of edwin j. Elmer gantry is a selfabsorbed college student who was originally supposed to go to law school, but his unethical attitude did not suit the law school world.
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. Elmer gantry burt lancaster, a drunken, dishonest street preacher allegedly patterned on billy sunday, wrangles a job with the travelling tent ministry conducted by sister sharon falconer jean simmons. Within our class, we have discussed main street 1920 and the movie elmer gantry 1960, based on lewiss book by the same title 1927. Sinclair lewis 1885 1951 sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist and playwright. Sinclair lewis books biography and list of works author. 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. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel that presents aspects of the religious activity of america in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it dodsworth. Lewis took a daring stand, and his work brought about the deconstruction of the myth regarding smalltown america. It might have been supposed that lewiss form of sociological realism, in which he wove innumerable details from contemporary life into his narrative, would date badly and that his books. The two make a successful onstage pair, and their chemistry extends to romance. Lewis skillfully uses chapter breaks to move the story forward, often skipping months and even years to get to the.
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. Sinclair lewis elmer gantry, which shocked, amused, confounded, but rarely bored readers back in. 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. Sep 22, 2014 a little story about the bad old days is illustrative. Elmer gantry, american film drama, released in 1960, that was an adaptation of sinclair lewiss novel of the same name and featured academy awardwinning performances by burt lancaster and shirley jones. 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.
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