Work of Art

by Sinclair Lewis

Book by Lewis, Sinclair

Genres: Fiction, Classic Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1934

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

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Marc Masurovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read Sinclair Lewis for eons.
This novel about two brothers--Ora and Myron Weagle--wanting to "make it big" in early 20th century Connecticut is a somewhat satirical or maybe ironic take on the rags to riches story. If anything it captures the social mores of suburban and small-town America with diversions through New York and other American urban landmarks. Ori wants to be a successful author while Myron wants to run the most elaborate and best-appointed hotels in the world, at least in the US.
The novel came out in 1934, in the middle of the Great Depression, with FDR in power and Prohibition on its last legs.
It covers roughly 30 years of the Weagle brothers' life. No one is truly likable in this hotel romp but most of the characters are well-sketched out and recognizable as genuinely human and imperfect. It will teach you everything you ever wanted to know (but dreaded asking!) about hotel management in the 1920s and 1930s.
Aside from being a social snapshot of an era that is totally gone, one has to be circumspect when faced with Lewis' occasional usages of racist and anti-semitic qualifiers and imagery. ["clever Jew", "darky", etc.] Period piece? still, a grim reminder that our forefathers and foremothers were exposed daily to such language.

[Scott Breslove · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it’s nothing amazing. Honestly, if it was a current book I’d say the plot was severely lacking. It centered mostly on hotel management which was kind of boring,
I admit I did skim on more than a few occasions. What does make up for it is how interesting it is to look back at a different time. It’s a lot of history and a look into the early 1900’s, which was this books redeeming quality, for me.

[Ethan Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the hotel business in the early 20th century. If you're just getting into Sinclair Lewis, you should read a few others before this one -- Main Street, Babbitt, Elmer Gantry in particular. It's in the same vein as Babbitt, in that it's not exactly plot-filled, but more of a sociological study that looks at this unexplored part of American culture from multiple angles.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great (ok, really good) read from my fave, Sinclair Lewis.

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite Sinclair Lewis book, but still a good read. There's not much of a plot, just Myron Weagle's desire to own the holy grail of hotels. This little known novel, from 1934, is still a fun read and well representative of Lewis's world that echoes from novel to novel. "Main Street" is still my favorite Lewis novel.

[John Marr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definietely one of Lewis's lesser works written to keep the metaphorical pot aboil. All the usual Lewisian style and characters in this portrait of a hotelier, but none of the satire. For fans only.