It seems to me that the majority of literary folk who form opinions about Sinclair Lewis acknowledge that he was a writer of considerable accomplishment. But their praise is often qualified by an enumeration of his personal flaws and literary shortcomings.

H.L. Mencken first met Lewis at a New York party, which the Smart Set editor had attended with George Jean Nathan. Mencken's initial reaction to Lewis was less than kind. Lewis bragged loudly about his new novel [Main Street] and his behavior was generally boorish. But back at the Smart Set offices Mencken pulled out an advance copy of Main Street that was lying around. Mencken had only gotten part way though it before telegramming Nathan: "That idiot has written a masterpiece!"

There's little question that most of his novels don't measure up to the standards of his great 1920's works. One can argue the merits of Elmer Gantry and Dodsworth. And one may take or leave his stories written for the magazines.

Still, I've long held that an immigrant need read only three classics to understand what makes America tick: Democracy in America by Tocqueville, The Theory of the Leisure Class by Veblen and Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.