Babbitt / Sinclair Lewis.
Publisher: London : Vintage, 2006Description: 384 p. ; 20 cm001: BDZ0000244503ISBN: 9780099264712 (pbk.) :Subject(s): City and town life -- Fiction. -- United States | United States -- Fiction. -- History -- 1919-1923Genre/Form: Satire. | General Fiction. | Modern & contemporary fiction | Classic fiction | Fiction: general & literaryDDC classification: 813.52 LOC classification: PS3523.E94Summary: George E. Babbitt is a prosperous, unpleasant, real estate agent from Zenith, Ohio. His middle-class existence is shattered when his friend is convicted of murdering his wife. Babbitt tries to become a less materialistic person but to no avail. BY THE AUTHOR OF IT CAN'T HAPPEN HEREBusinessman George F. Babbitt loves the latest appliances, making money and the Republican party. In fact, he loves being a Solid Citizen even more than he loves his wife. But Babbitt comes to resent the middle class trappings he has worked so hard to acquire. Realising that his life is devoid of meaning, he grows determined to transcend his trivial existence and search for a greater purpose. In the economic boom years of 1920s' America, Babbitt became a symbol of middle-class mediocrity, and his name an enduring part of the American lexicon.Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | |
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Book | MAIN LIBRARY Book | FICTION (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 114764 |
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E-BOOK European nightmares horror cinema in Europe since 1945 / | E-BOOK Designs on Democracy : Architecture and the Public in Interwar London. | FICTION My wife and mine rod / | FICTION Babbitt / | MOUSE Mouse | OS 302.23 REN Information graphics / | OS 302.23 REN Understanding the world / |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
BY THE AUTHOR OF IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE
Businessman George F. Babbitt loves the latest appliances, making money and the Republican party. In fact, he loves being a Solid Citizen even more than he loves his wife. But Babbitt comes to resent the middle class trappings he has worked so hard to acquire. Realising that his life is devoid of meaning, he grows determined to transcend his trivial existence and search for a greater purpose.
In the economic boom years of 1920s' America, Babbitt became a symbol of middle-class mediocrity, and his name an enduring part of the American lexicon.
Originally published: New York: Harcourt Brace; London: Jonathan Cape, 1922.
George E. Babbitt is a prosperous, unpleasant, real estate agent from Zenith, Ohio. His middle-class existence is shattered when his friend is convicted of murdering his wife. Babbitt tries to become a less materialistic person but to no avail. BY THE AUTHOR OF IT CAN'T HAPPEN HEREBusinessman George F. Babbitt loves the latest appliances, making money and the Republican party. In fact, he loves being a Solid Citizen even more than he loves his wife. But Babbitt comes to resent the middle class trappings he has worked so hard to acquire. Realising that his life is devoid of meaning, he grows determined to transcend his trivial existence and search for a greater purpose. In the economic boom years of 1920s' America, Babbitt became a symbol of middle-class mediocrity, and his name an enduring part of the American lexicon.
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Library Journal Review
First published in 1922, Babbitt is an authentic modern American classic, a biting satire of middle-American values that retains much of its poignancy today. George F. Babbitt, Lewis's outwardly successful but inwardly unhappy real estate salesman, still seems real. His story makes engrossing reading and is ideal for audio listening. With Babbitt himself at the center of every scene, it is impossible for listeners plagued by frequent interruptions to lose track of the story line. Narrator Wolfram Kandinsky has a voice that many listeners may find grating; however, his reading here conveys an appropriate ironic tone that is especially apt when he reads Babbitt's own lines. Recommended for general fiction collections. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Publishers Weekly Review
Lewis's tale of middle-class frustration, stress and success in the 1920s is brought to life by the L.A. Theatre Works' 1987 full cast production featuring more than 30 actors, including Ed Asner (as Babbitt), Judge Reinhold, Ted Danson, Richard Dreyfuss, Helen Hunt and John Lithgow. With a deep and raspy voice and with great projection, Asner delivers a believable and amusing performance that securely anchors the entire production. Whether bullying his family or spouting politics with his friends at the club, Asner keeps the consistency of the self-aggrandizing character solid throughout. Jazz music segues well between scenes, though without any additional production sound beyond voices, it can at times feel out of place. While the full cast proves enjoyable in their individual parts, many take turns narrating the exposition throughout the production. At times, this is executed well, but sometimes it feels as if the director is just trying to give everyone more voice time. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reservedThere are no comments on this title.