1922Naturalism
Babbitt
Sinclair Lewis · 1885–1951 · United States
Why it matters
A prosperous, conformist Midwestern realtor briefly rebels against his own respectability before settling back into it. Gave the language its word for hollow, striving American middle-class boosterism.
At a glance
satire
Difficulty 5/10medium pace401 pagesDense satirical detail and period-specific slang require attention.
Deep dive
Lewis tests exactly how far a prosperous, thoroughly respectable man can drift from his own conformity before something reels him back in — and what, if anything, survives the drift.
