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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading elmer gantry. 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. Keith phares elmer gantry, patricia risley sharon falconer, vale rideout frank. 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. In november 2007, an opera, also titled elmer gantry, by robert aldridge and herschel garfein, premiered in the james k. 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. But lewis still had reason to believe that as with. 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. Times of elmer gantry, based on sinclair lewiss scathing 1927 satire about a.
Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis goodreads share book. Elmer gantry s velvet opera, at various times also known as velvet opera, was a british rock band active in the late 1960s. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Members of the band would later become members of the strawbs, hudson ford and stretch. See all books authored by sinclair lewis, including it cant happen here, and main street, and more on. Funny how the world always praises its operasingers so much and pays em so well and then starves its shoemakers, and yet it. I liked how it was based only on the second half of the book. The novel tells the story of a young, narcissistic, womanizing college. In this essay, aubrey discusses how lewiss characterization in elmer gantry serves his satiric. In november 2007, an opera, also titled elmer gantry. Sinclair lewis has 175 books on goodreads with 188454 ratings.
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. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually renounces tobacco and alcohol and chasing women. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis, first edition abebooks. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis elmer gantry, long tedious and really cynical. Based on sinclair lewis 1927 novel of the same name, elmer gantry is an opera with music by robert aldridge and a libretto by herschel garfein that received. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Contemporary american composer robert aldridge had bought sinclair lewis famous 1927 novel elmer gantry to the opera stage, and he does so again in a theodore.
After supporting pink floyd on tour, they were inspired. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry. Sinclair lewis got it exactly right american heritage. The sinclair lewis society newsletter is published twice a year with help from the publications unit of the english department at illinois state university. War i, sinclair lewiss incendiary novel elmer gantry tells a story of. Sinclair lewis books list of books by author sinclair lewis. Rapport between reader and author was getting a little uneasy by the time lewis got to elmer gantry in 1927 and dodsworth two years later. He kept from flunking only because jim lefferts drove him to his books. This study guide consists of approximately 22 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more. This tale of a hypocritical preacher who prefers money. In elmer gantry, sinclair lewis uses the character of elmer gantry to represent, without nuance or ambiguity, what he viewed as the prototypical evangelical minister of his day.
Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry scandalized the generation in which it was written, causing sinclair lewis to be invited to a jail cell in new. Lewiss depiction of elmer and his immersion in the evangelical world is the strongest aspect of the book. In satirizing a huckster preacher in his 1927 novel elmer gantry, sinclair lewis also. A complete biography of sinclair lewis, author of elmer gantry. 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.
The sentence that followed interested me even further. One of the things kostis protopapas was determined to do as artistic director of tulsa opera was to devote one production a season to an american opera. Universally recognized as a landmark in american literature, elmer gantry scandalized readers. To the cheaply built knottypine building, decorated in red and gold paint, they add a. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading. 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. In 1927, american novelist sinclair lewis published elmer gantry. Sinclair lewis worldfamous satire of religious hypocrisy and the excesses of the roaring. Listen to elmer gantry audiobook by sinclair lewis. Elmer the patchwork elephant, a childrens picture book series by author david mckee. Risley, rideout, kelley, florentine opera chorus, milwaukee symphony, boggs. Elmer gantry has even been made into a new opera, with a score by.
The boston lyric opera and boston music theatre project put on a workshop production of the first act in 1992. Elmer gantry is a 2007 american opera by robert aldridge to a libretto by herschel garfein based on the 1926 novel by sinclair lewis of the same name. Elmer gantry, a novel by sinclair lewis, which was made into a film starring burt lancaster. Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by lewis in 1926 and published by harcourt in march 1927. The nashville opera presented the world premiere in november 2007 elmer gantry was conceived almost two decades before its premiere. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power. Sinclair lewis books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. 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. Publication date 1927 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A little story about the bad old days is illustrative. 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.
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. Elmer gantry is a full length, twoact opera based on the 1927 sinclair lewis novel of the same name, which was sighted by the nobel prize committee when. Set just before world war i, sinclair lewiss incendiary novel elmer gantry. The opera, as seen at montclair state university in new jersey, is a. Elmer gantry by lewis, sinclair and a great selection of related books.