Put aside, if you can, burt lancasters performance in the 1960 film adaptation, which neuters lewiss protagonist with selfawareness and snips the social canvas to fit the screen. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. In 1960, a film version of elmer gantry was made, with burt lancaster, in the title role, winning an oscar for best actor. His heady optimism and unbridled sense of humor keep the entire community in a cheery mood. Elmer gantry 1927 is, in fact, the most scathing satire lewis ever wrote. Jan 27, 2008 not gantry, the broadway flop from 1970, which mr. He is immediately taken with sister sharon falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfireanddamnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. In 1930, following elmer gantry 1927 and dodsworth 1929, sinclair lewis became the first american author to be awarded the nobel prize for distinction in world literature. May 15, 2014 elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by lewis in 1926 and published by harcourt in march 1927. Elmer gantry mass market the elliott bay book company. It is the story about a young man who becomes a successful preacher in a very cynical manner.
The novel tells the story of a young, narcissistic, womanizing college athlete who abandons his early ambition to become a lawyer. In 1927, sinclair lewis published one of the most, if not the most, controversial book in american literature titled elmer gantry. I returned the dvd for a replacement which had similar problems, but at different points in the movie. Elmer gantry is the portrait of a silvertongued evangelist who rises to power within his church, yet lives a life of hypocrisy, sensuality, and ruthless selfindulgence. Light marks on pastedowns where items previously removed, corner creases to few pages, otherwise very good to near fine lacking dust jacket. When a salvation army worker enters, gantry shocks and moves the crowd with an impromptu, impassioned sermon equating god with love. In particular, elmer gantry is a perfect study of hypocrisy and rationalization in action. Composer robert livingston and librettist herschel garfein had begun planning an opera based on sinclair lewis elmer gantry in 1990. Elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis in a bestselling 1927 novel. Green mentions, but elmer gantry by john bishop book, mel marvin music and robert satuloff lyrics.
Sinclair lewis as set down in the good book elmer gantry in which this author of the early 20th century condemns organized religion, most notably the baptist church. More information about this seller contact this seller 8. Rather than classics, whats more commonly consumed in the privacy of ereading are books seen as scandalous. Elmers metaphysical lecture, entitled whoa up, youth. A broadway play by patrick kearney opened on 7 august 1928 at the playhouse theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Sinclair lewiss elmer gantry new york, 1927 is a ferocious satire against protestant fundamentalist religion in. Lewis was never good at making friends, but he did marry in 1914 to an editor at vogue magazine, with whom he had a son, wells, named after the british science fiction writer and.
Elmer gantry burt lancaster, a drunken, dishonest street preacher allegedly patterned on billy sunday, wrangles a job with the travelling tent ministry conducted by sister sharon falconer jean. His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power within his churcha saver of souls who lives a life of hypocrisy, sensuality, and ruthless self. A solar eclipse coming on march 20 wont just be an astronomical wonder it will be an event that may be unprecedented in human history, according to biblical experts who say it is an unmistakable sign of judgment. After the publication of his more moderate novel arrowsmith 1925, sinclair lewis returned to what he did best, writing unrelieved satire. Or go to the library and take a look at the book elmer gantry. The title character starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually. It might have been supposed that lewiss form of sociological realism, in which he wove innumerable details from contemporary life into his narrative, would date badly and that his books. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis goodreads share book.
Elmer gantry is a 1960 american drama film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to smalltown america. Published in 1926, this is the story of a professional good man, a preacher and pastor in those first. Elmer gantry was banned in boston on publication, and no doubt various school and library boards are still trying to ban it. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually. Moore was hired by cedarville university six months after he was fired for, according to matt read more. If the problem was with the master copy then all dvds would have the same failure, looks like a quality control problem with the copy process. They are scandalous, curiously, for the same reasons elmer gantry was. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis benjamin anastas bookforum. This satirical story about a biblethumping charlatan still annoys evangelical christians, because its still spoton. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk. Sinclair lewis worldfamous satire of religious hypocrisy and the excesses of the roaring. He leaned against the bar of the old home sample room, the most gilded and urbane saloon in cato, missouri, and requested the bartender to join him in the good old summer time, the waltz of the day.
Elmer starts his career as a baptist and then joins up with a charismatic but equally unprincipled female revivalist preacher. Published in 1926, elmer gantry is a classic fiction novel by sinclair lewis. Over the past few weeks, ive enjoyed sinclair lewis novel elmer gantry as an audio book, beautifully read by anthony heald and it took me a while to figure out why. Sinclair lewiss howl of outrage at the state of affairs in americas soul, elmer gantry a no. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, shirley jones and patti page elmer gantry was nominated for five academy awards in 1961, including best. Shirley jones oscar winning performance in elmer gantry. The story is set in the middle united states and begins in the early twentieth century. So much a product of its own historic moment, it turns out to be a book for our time as well, and probably for all times.
Lewiss depiction of elmer and his immersion in the evangelical world is the strongest aspect of the book. Elmer gantry, novel by sinclair lewis, a satiric indictment of fundamentalist religion that caused an uproar upon its publication in 1927. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, shirley jones and patti page. Stretch the story of elmer gantry 1996, cd discogs. This study guide consists of approximately 22 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of elmer gantry. This was the apogee of his literary career, and in the period from ann vickers 1933 to the posthumously published world so wide 1951 lewis wrote ten novels that. Elmer gantry elmer gantry audiobook, by sinclair lewis. Bookplate with keats quote, the poetry of earth is never dead, on front endpaper. Elmer gantry romance wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. It tells the story of a hypocritical, corrupt, but very successful preacher named elmer gantry. There were enough similarities between stidger and the fictional gantry that the description for his 2002 biography evangelisms first modern media star. Anthony moore had been fired from his job as lead pastor of the fort worth campus of the village church.
Studies suggest that people load their new ereaders with cheap classics, consuming them in. 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 hampshire and to his own lynching in virginia. Good video quality,however the audio turned off intermittently, greatly reducing the enjoyment of watching. Cedarville university professor reportedly fired from the. Set in the 1920s, the novel is a satire of american religious attitudes at the time. Elmer gantry opens with a short shot of chapter 1 of the novel, im not sure if this implies a loyal reproduction, but since one of the criticisms i heard of this film is that it vulgarizes the. Erotica ebooks sell quite well, as do evangelical romances. So come to our website for a link to mcclays article or call us at breakpoint 8773225527 for a copy. Some objected to the spicy scenes of physical passion in elmer gantry, but most of the clergy who opposed the book were more outraged by the shallowness and hypocrisy of its main character. The title character of elmer gantry starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of a. Sinclair lewiss elmer gantry new york, 1927 is a ferocious satire against protestant fundamentalist religion in the american midwest. The life of reverend bill stidger written by his grandson jack hyland states bill stidger was the most famous preacher in america in the 1930s and the model for sinclair lewis s elmer gantry. Financial analysis of elmer gantry 1960 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Consuming this version of the book meant distinguishing yourself from your neighbors for 25 cents.
His portrait of a goldentongued evangelist who rises to power. Elmer gantry by sinclair lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lewis was no stranger to controversy and elmer gantry was no exception to the rule. 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 and to his own lynching in virginia. The most recent version of the book is consumed in a different way. Elmer gantry is a fasttalking, harddrinking traveling salesman who always has a risque story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike.
The title character of elmer gantry starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of a large methodist congregation. The title character starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of a large methodist congregation. The legal profession does not suit the unethical gantry, who then becomes a notorious and cynical alcoholic. Will try to buy elmer gantry dvd from another source. Oct 08, 2012 shirley jones oscar winning performance in elmer gantry.
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. On april 16, 2020, i wrote an article titled, it takes a 9marx village. The novel is a picaresque novel in which the main character is immoral and lives by his wits elmer. For the better part of a century, the title of sinclair lewiss phenomenally successful and often reviled novel elmer gantry 1927 has been a byword for religious fraud and bunk evangelism. Lewis was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1930, just three years after the publication on elmer gantry.
Evans riddle, judson roberts, and sharon falconer, with whom he becomes romantically involved. Elmer gantry is a really well written novel authored by sinclair lewis in the 1920s. Elmer gantry, as the title suggests, is an most insincere and hypocritical preacher of the faith. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money and chasing women.
Worldnet daily, home to a plethora of rightwing evangelical writers and nut jobs, warns that an upcoming solar eclipse is a warning sign from god. Nashville opera presented the premiere in 2007, and since then it has been presented by several companies including the opera programs at the university of houston and the university of minnesota and at florentine opera in milwaukee. After various forays into evangelism, he becomes a successful methodist minister despite his hypocrisy and serial sexual indiscretions. Sinclair lewis, with his satire of american backwardness inviting readers to scoff at their fellow citizens, was published in paperback by avon books. 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. The credibility of elmer gantry is something that will keep this book eternally great. Elmer gantry is the portrait of a silvertongued evangelist who rises to power within his church, yet lives a life of hypocrisy, sensuality, and ruthless selfindulgence the title character starts out as a greedy, shallow, philandering baptist minister, turns to evangelism, and eventually becomes the leader of a large methodist congregation. Many critics, however, viewed the book as obscene and its satire as overdone. Like main street 1920 and babbitt 1922, elmer gantry provoked widespread controversy elmer gantry is the story of a young roughneck who abandons his early ambition to. Elmer gantry, a flawed preacher for the ages elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis. Actor oscar for his portrayal of elmer gantry in 1960, while shirley jones was named best supporting actress for her performance as lulu.
Elmer gantry in the original is a creature of orgiastic appetites as wide as the plains that spawned him and as soothingly familiar as the cover of the saturday. After collecting money from the patrons, gantry takes a drunken barfly back to his hotel room. Feb 22, 2008 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 novel and continues. Although elmer is not a very nice person and he only becomes worse as he grows in power and influence, hes not a sociopath, which means. Throughout the novel gantry encounters fellow religious hypocrites, including mrs. Elmer gantry has been called the greatest, most vital, and most penetrating study of hypocrisy that has been written since the works of voltaire goodreads 3. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Sinclair lewis elmer gantry is a great book because it has credibility, a timeless theme, and it has the necessary action.