Babbit Hardback - 2010

Babbitt is a satirical novel by American author Sinclair Lewis, first published in 1922. The novel portrays the life of George F. Babbitt, a middle-aged real estate agent living in the fictional city of Zenith, which is based on Lewis's hometown of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Babbitt is a conformist who blindly follows the norms of his society, which values material success and social status above all else. He is unhappy with his life but is too afraid to break free from the expectations of his peers and family. Throughout the novel, Babbitt struggles with his identity and his desire to break free from the monotony of his life. He becomes involved in various business ventures and social activities, but ultimately realizes that these things do not bring him true happiness. He also has an affair with a woman who is not his wife, which causes him to question his values and the society in which he lives. Babbitt is a critique of American middle-class values and the conformity that is often associated with them. It is also a commentary on the impact of industrialization and urbanization on American society in the early 20th century. The novel is notable for its use of satire and irony, and for its portrayal of a character who is both sympathetic and flawed.1919. Lewis, was the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Possibly the greatest satirist of his age, Lewis wrote novels that present a devastating picture of middle-class American life in the 1920s. Although he ridiculed the values, the lifestyles, and even the speech of his characters, there is often affection behind the irony. Lewis began his career as a journalist, editor, and hack writer. He became an important literary figure with the publication of Main Street. His seventh novel, Babbitt, is considered by many critics to be his greatest work. The story follows George Babbitt, a middle-aged realtor who is unimaginative, self-important, and hopelessly middle class. Vaguely dissatisfied with his position, he tries to alter the pattern of his life by flirting with liberalism and by having an affair with an attractive widow, only to find that his dread of ostracism is greater than his desire for escape. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.