Amusing and tragic by turn, Sinclair Lewis's classic novel is a biting
satire of middle-American values whose title has entered the language as
a byword for smug complacency, conformity, and materialism, and whose
suburban targets are still much in evidence. A successful real estate
agent, George F. Babbitt is a member of all the right clubs, and
unquestioningly shares the same aspirations and ideas as his friends and
fellow Boosters. Yet even Babbitt dreams of romance and escape, and when
his best friend does something to throw his world upside down, he
rebels, and tries to find fulfillment in romantic adventures and liberal
thinking. Hilarious and poignant, Babbitt turns the spotlight on
middle America and strips bare the hypocrisy of business practice,
social mores, politics, and religious institutions. In his introduction
and notes Gordon Hutner explores the novel's historical and literary
contexts, and highlights its rich cultural and social references. The
book also
features an up-to-date bibliography and explanatory notes that document
and gloss the rich social history of the period.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
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valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.
