Ann Vickers

by Sinclair Lewis

We follow Ann Vickers from her childhood in Waubanakee, Illinois through to her later years in Manhattan, with much happening along the way. Sinclair Lewis, as always, instructs while he entertains: we learn about prison life, settlement houses and many other aspects of the social movements of the time.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, American, United States

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2019

About the author

Novelist Harry Sinclair Lewis satirized middle-class America in his 22 works, including Babbitt (1922) and Elmer Gantry (1927) and first received a Nobel Prize for literature in 1930.

Middle-class values and materialism attach unthinking George F. Babbitt, the narrow-minded, self-satisfied main character person in the novel of Sinclair Lewis.

People awarded "his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters."

He knowingly, insightfully, and critically viewed capitalism and materialism between the wars. People respect his strong characterizations of modern women.

Henry Louis Mencken wrote, "[If] there was ever a novelist among us with an authentic call to the trade...it is this red-haired tornado from the Minnesota wilds."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclai...

Reviews

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Ann Vickers' by Sinclair Lewis is surprising! It is about a very educated woman who lived her life as a progressive activist. What is so surprising about that? The book was published in 1932.

Ann grows up in small Waubanakee, Illinois. Her father is the Superintendent of Schools. Her mother died when she was ten years old. She has several boyfriends who teach her about love and relationships. Ann attends college frequently, taking breaks between degrees, learning a lot more about life and socialist/progressive organizations and bureaucracies and the people who run them. She eventually becomes Dr. Vickers, an esteemed reformer of prisons. Before that, as a young woman living in New York City after her father dies, she has a series of jobs working for socialist and progressive organizations.

She worked as a suffragette and is arrested during a protest. She spends a few days in jail. She gets a job managing a 'settlement house' during WWII which offers a variety of services to poor people. She has a love affair with a military man who leaves her pregnant. She gets an illegal abortion. She works for a rich woman running a private charity. She goes on a vacation alone to England by boat, trying to decide what to do next, meeting people, seeing poor sections of London. She remembers her time spent in jail and decides to take up the cause of reforming prisons. She sees horrible things in the prisons for women. She writes a book about prison reform. She meets a man, Russell Spaulding, whom she marries. It is a dull marriage for her. Eventually she ends up with an extremely educated and intelligent judge, Barney Dolphin, married to Mona. Ann has a baby, not knowing if it's her husband's or the judge's. Ann is forty years old!

The surprise, of course, is this fictional biography of Ann Vickers is taking place during the early 1920's and 1930's. Was it simply an aspirational novel about a feminist, invented by Lewis? I read it is somewhat based on the lives of his two wives. Wow, right? That said, I had a difficult time finishing the book. The novel has a tone of smart-aleck cynicism throughout, a sort of clever proto-snarkiness, Lewis-style. It is much too intense and heavy-handed for a snarky-toned book, too humorless. For me, anyway. Still. A bildungsroman novel about a woman like this in the 1900's? Wow wow wow.

The sad part of course, is everything in the book is still true of today - same prejudices, same issues of poverty and prisons, same tremendous inequalities. Ann Vickers soldiers on through the battles in 1930, and we still are fighting through the same battles today in 2020.

[Tacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The movie made in the 30's could not show half of the violence and horrors that Sinclair Lewis wrote. I wonder if it could ever be re-made in these days, women having a much better time of it now that in the early days when the Suffragettes were trying to bring women's issues to the forefront, and no one wanted to hear. I re-read this book and found myself engrossed this time as the first time I read it in my teens. Many issues are still relevant, although I wonder if the young women of today will ever realize the sacrifices made for them.

[John Harder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sinclair Lewis, though a pinko commie, is one of America’s greatest writers. His writing still stands up well in Ann Vickers; few can place one word after another with such jarring insight. This is where my good review ends. Lewis clearly wanted to present his protagonist, Ann Vickers, in a sympathetic light, but I decidedly did not like Ann. Lewis takes us on a ride while Vickers searches for self fulfillment. This is fine, but such self indulgence, apparently, in Lewis’ view gives tacit approval for any type of behavior including breaking up otherwise happy homes and trampling on good people.

This is unique for Lewis. I have read most of his works. He paints people with foibles, but all of his “heroes” have a core or character, though they may also be silly buffoons. In Ann Vickers, the primary character has all the outward appearances of a decent human being, but her core is rotten. However, I am certain that in Lewis’ opinion his character is a decent human being worthy of emulation. When an author achieves the opposite of his goals, it warrants taking a pass on this book. Read Arrowsmith or Babbitt if you want an initiation the Lewis.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinclair Lewis is my favorite author and this is, thus far, my favorite work of his. A profound story constructed by Lewis with epic sentences. It's pure literary alchemy at its best. And what is more, Lewis has successfully written my biography -- if I had been an early 19th century, woman, feminist social reformer and prison superintendent who was kind of agnostic. Given that I'm essentially a 21st century Baptist preacher, that doesn't seem to be an easy task. This book, following my reading of several other SL novels made me want to track down any of his remaining relatives and thank him through them for making a very powerful, ineffable impact on my life.

[Carolyn Di Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It kept my interest. Okay, now the real talk. I cannot understand the comments that this is a feminist or progressive book. Today's Loony Left would flip out over it! Sinclair Lewis may have been a communist darling of his day, but the liberals would certainly not appreciate the way he has Ann obsessing over her lost (due to abortion) child. Not only that, but homosexuals are not portrayed very flatteringly, either. Actually, when you think about it, hardly ANYONE in this book is flatteringly portrayed. I didn't feel very invested in seeing Ann have a happy ending. I couldn't care about her that much. In the prison section, the inmates apparently really like her, but why? I could not tell. She never did much for them, that I could see. As with today's liberals, the intention counts and she WANTED to do more, but alas, poor weak woman. I think Sinclair Lewis put the "shocking" stuff in, strictly to sell more books...like any good Capitalist would.
Spoiler: Ann ends up by standing by her man (not her husband, however, ooo, scandalous!), and "healing" him, btw....he's a crooked judge...lol....
It's well written and I enjoyed it for the sheer historical aspect of it. But as for a great feminist/progressive novel? Hardly....

[Donna Cochener]

I find it both fascinating and sad that so much of what Ann Vickers confronts in this tale of a principled but still human woman in the 1930s still exists today - the struggle for women to have a voice and be treated fairly at work, the challenges of being a strong woman who desires a fulfilling love life, attitudes toward working mothers, deplorable conditions in prisons and the impact on prisoners, the list goes on - still confronts us in 2015. Not my favorite writing by Sinclair Lewis but worth reading for the keen social commentary and insight into a somewhat lesser known attitude of America in the earlier part of the last century.

[Felicity · Rating 1 out of 5]

A ver, de momento le pongo una estrellita porque no me lo voy a terminar... es un libro que narra la vida de una chica, tratando de profundizar en la evolución de sus ideas socialistas, feministas y demás, al tiempo que descubre que le gustan los hombres. Insisto en lo de que "trata de profundizar" porque realmente para mi no lo consigue. Se nota que el autor hace énfasis en eso porque es en lo que se centra en cada etapa de la vida de Ann, pero no llego a comprender por qué esta chica actúa como actúa, especialmente con los hombres pero en general también (tiene una compañera de piso lesbiana a la que trata fatal).

Hay que entender que las relaciones de esta muchacha con la gente que la rodea están descritas por un señor americano de la primera mitad del siglo XX, y se nota, pero es que lo siento, buen hombre, su perspectiva no me aporta nada en absoluto y me pone de mal humor, así que hasta luego.

[Maggie Jacket · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Sinclair Lewis and how his books still feel relevant today. While I don’t see myself portrayed in Ann’s character, I still found it immensely interesting to read about the struggles she was facing as a woman in the 1920s and 30s—a lot of struggles which many still face today.

One of my favorite parts of the book has nothing to do with the writing. The copy I have came from my late grandfathers library and I think it must be one of the early editions of the book. It was a joy to read it knowing my grandpa had before me and trying to imagine what he might have thought about the social commentaries Lewis made.

[Andrei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't able to finish this book, it just didn't catch me enough. It started well with Ann's childhood and first love, but then I completely lost interest after she becomes a feminist/activist. Browsing through the book and seeing the same style I just decided not to continue reading it.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For quite a while I have enjoyed picking up old books if I happen on an estate sale or a garage sale. The book with yellowing pages that was written many years ago will call to me every time, and I'lll pick it up an attempt to save the novel from the landfill. I have a full shelf of such books, and I finally had time to pull Ann Vickers from the shelf. It is such an old edition that Goodreads does not even lists it as an option.

Reviewing this novel is difficult for many reasons. The book itself was written in the 1930's and thus the writing style is much more leisurely than any of us are currently accustomed to, which took some time to adjust to, and thus for me to read the novel. Not a lot happens in the first 50% of the novel other than we see Ann Vickers go through various life stages, which also makes the novel a bit off putting.

And yet, in this book written in the 1930's and about the 1930's we see Ann take on multiple lovers (one married), become pregnant, terminate the pregnancy, take on various social justice related issues such as women's right to vote and prison reform. She also becomes pregnant by a lover, tells her husband and leaves to raise her child largely on her own. (I don't view these as spoilers -- thie book has been out for 90 years after all.) We learn a significant amount about her inner thinking as Lewis consistently uses her voice throughout, coupled with a wry observational narrator who adds in social commentaries and various perspectives about those who orbit around Ann. And they do, as Ann is the queen of this novel. She meets charlatons, backstabbers, mansplainers, catty women, suffragets, politicians and criminals and throughout it all Ann stays remarkably herself. He also addresses larger social issues such as poverty, crime, income inequality and corruption. His personal interest in Socialism is reflected from time to time, but it is interesting to note that Ann and everyone around her end up electing to earn as much money as possible.

Was this worth the slow read? Absolutely. If anything I ended up valuing the novel even more for the courage Sinclair Lewis showed in writing this novel at a time when the subjects he covered were sure to be criticized. Like many others who are still finding my way through my life I find it interesting to read about those who manage to muddle through somehow, and come out the other side.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not Lewis's best novel, it is a fascinating look at a strong, intellectual woman who does suffrage work, teaches at a settlement house, and becomes a prison reformer. She isn't always taken seriously and she has trouble finding a man who will accept her as she is rather than condescending to her. And her final choice of a man is a corrupt judge who serves a year in prison for accepting payoffs. The section on prison abuse is strong stuff and sadly could have been written yesterday. What's also interesting is that Ann has an abortion early in the novel, as a result of a brief affair with a young man who in the army and about to go overseas during WWI. Shocking material for the time.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely an artifact of its time, and of Sinclair Lewis's real-life marriage (his second) to Dorothy Thompson. The metaphor of prison is interesting, and there are some memorable moments. If you are going to venture beyond the five novels of Lewis's that people usually read, this is worth a look.

[Magda Revetllat · Rating 3 out of 5]

El título original remite a la vida de la protagonista una mujer que tiene que afrontar la doble moral de una sociedad en lo personal y lo profesional.

La novela forma parte de los llamados libros feministas del autor.

[Cbg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific! So sorry it ended. (ebook at fadedpage dot com)

[Ben Kruskal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Sinclair Lewis in many ways. Interesting characters, focused on gender roles and equality. Interesting from the vantage point of a century ago.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

No me he equivocado de título, es solo que en español la editorial decidió titular a la novela Cárceles de mujeres y no Ann Vickers. Es comprensible. Ann Vickers es un nombre que no dice nada. Pero en inglés tampoco lo decía en 1933, año en el que se publicó la novela… (Imagino que tampoco fueron muy reveladores los títulos de Oliver Twist, David Copperfield o Lolita.)

Sin embargo, el título de Cárceles de mujeres, con el sustantivo en plural, es adecuado. Ann Vickers visita muchas cárceles a lo largo de los cuarenta años de su vida narrados en la novela. Algunas son físicas y otras no. En su infancia se enamoriscó de un muchacho dominante. Fue a la universidad. Fue sufragista. Estuvo un tiempo en la cárcel por sus ideas. Se convirtió en trabajadora social y en reformista de prisiones. En la Primera Guerra Mundial se enamoró por segunda vez. El novio resultó ser un sinvergüenza. Ella se quedó embarazada. Abortó voluntariamente. Unos años después, con el título de doctora en sus manos y tras otro fracaso amoroso, se casó con un hombre al que no quería. Lo último que hizo fue enamorarse de un juez pelirrojo, corrupto y casado. Tuvo un hijo con él.

Entre todos estos acontecimientos siempre hay dos voces narrativas que sirven de guía. Una es la de la propia Ann, que suele ser muy distinta de la que muestra a su entorno (por ejemplo le pone nombre a su aborto, Pride, y convive con su recuerdo durante toda la novela sin que nadie más lo sepa) y la otra es la voz del narrador, que es la de Sinclair Lewis. Ésta quizá sea la más interesante porque es la que encierra la gran reflexión de toda la novela: que la hipocresía no está solo ahí fuera sino dentro de cada uno de nosotros y que nunca es fácil mantener la coherencia con uno mismo ni lidiar con tantas contradicciones. El narrador es el pájaro carpintero que insiste una y otra vez en lo mismo. Su mordacidad es el argumento de la novela.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had wanted to read this work by Sinclair Lewis for a long time, but of all the works by this Nobel Prize-winning author, this was the most difficult to track down in e-book format. I began reading it before this November's election day, since it concerns, in part, the fight for women's right to vote, and it concerns a "modern woman," who breaks away from the things that bound women early in the 19th century to be a career woman who kept her own name after marriage. I thought that reading it would help put Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency in perspective, and it did. However, some of the less savory men and women that Lewis populated the novel with, it turns out, are still alive and kicking -- and voted for a different candidate. So it goes. The struggle for woman's rights has been a long and winding path, and it is far from done, regardless of what some of today's young women may think. Reading this book, like many of Lewis's, provides much food for thought. It's a good read, and it even has a fairly positive ending!

[Gisela Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic novel by Sinclair Lewis set during the Great Depression.
Wonderful heroine, depicted in detail in all aspects.
The atmosphere in the prisons destined for women, communists, anarchists, socialists, reformists.
Brave words and bold arguments, some of which would be censored now, so many years after, due to societal hypocrisy.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic. First time reading Lewis and loved it. Had no idea it would be so progressive, feminist, important - and that we are still fighting many of the things this inspiring protagonist had to face.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

without a doubt this is my favorite work of Sinclair Lewis. Wonderful believable main character.

[Ryan Haviland]

A great feminist book!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

More people need to read this book.

[Robin]

novel