Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis

 Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis


Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E   and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

It is no wonder that Babbitt is a mesmerizing, enchanting work.
Sinclair Lewis is a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

And I am happy to have read other masterpieces, by the same genius:

- Arrowsmith, Main Street and Elmer Gantry

And I found the main character , George Babbitt as intriguing, complex, charming, pugnacious, human, controversial at times as Elmer   Gantry and Arrowsmith.

The book seemed at times to verge on comedy and it is really funny in many moments, but we also have tragedies taking place.

Paul, George Babbitt's friend shots his wife, to give just one example.
There are conflicts between Babbitt and various other personages

From his children to competitors, from his wife to a lover, almost everyone has moments of tension with the protagonist.
Notwithstanding that, George Babbitt is one of the characters that I sympathize and identity with.

He has a midlife crisis and although I like to think I am still young, I understand that and feel compassion.
His views change and I faced a serious challenge myself from a great book:

Happiness- Lessons From A New Science by Richard Layard.

He pleads a strong case for higher taxes and even if I am a convinced supporter of the right, with a loathing for communists and any left wing exaggerating, I feel Richard Layard is right.

So I again feel supportive when the conservative Babbitt becomes a liberal.
Well, more or less...

George Babbitt is a pillar of the business community of Zenith.
He is an acclaimed orator, a solid friend and a defender of values.

And yet, when the members of the newly created League of Citizens for the Right Values press him to join, Babbitt refuses.
At least for a while.

When he sees that business is bad as a result of his refusal, he has to throw in the towel.
There are quite a few moments when the integrity, the moral profile of the hero is not that of a role model.

In some ways, the idiosyncrasies and shortcomings of the main character make him more endearing.

But he has some major failures and flaws.
He has a heated argument and then he fires an employee that was indeed dishonest and unethical.

Babbitt faces blackmail, but alas, the incriminating evidence is also pointing towards a jail sentence for both the realtor and his employees if the truth comes out.

Babbitt and his business partner in one particular deal have not just double crossed, but triple crossed other participants in the transaction.

And finally, Babbitt is cheating on his wife and gets involved with a provocative group.


"Medicine, adjectival and Real Horror Show" this is how characters in other masterpieces would call this great book.

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