Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis. Summary of the book.

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Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis

Elmer Gantry is a satirical novel by Sinclair Lewis, published in 1927. The novel is set in the American Midwest during the 1920s and tells the story of Elmer Gantry, a salesman and former college athlete who becomes a popular but corrupt and hypocritical Protestant preacher.

Plot Summary

Elmer Gantry is a drifter who lands a job as a traveling salesman for a wholesale liquor business. It is at a sales convention that he meets the ambitious and attractive Sister Sharon Falconer, a flamboyant evangelist who has her own traveling revival show.

Gantry is immediately captivated by Sharon and decides to join her ministry as a preacher. He quickly discovers that he is a talented orator and is soon preaching to large crowds. Despite his success, Gantry is not a religious man. In fact, he does not even believe in God. He is only in it for money and fame. He soon finds himself entangled in a web of lies and hypocrisy, as he attempts to navigate the complexities of the religious world.

As his celebrity grows, Gantry is forced to confront his own moral failings. Eventually, he realizes that he is not the man he thought he was and he must come to terms with the consequences of his actions.

Teachings and Interesting Facts

Elmer Gantry is a scathing indictment of fundamentalist religion and the hypocrisy of religious leaders. It also serves as a critique of consumer culture and the power of celebrity. The novel is notable for its use of humor and its biting satire.

The novel was a huge success upon its release and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1926. It was also made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1960 starring Burt Lancaster.

The novel has been widely praised for its accurate portrayal of religious hypocrisy. It has been credited with helping to end the practice of evangelists using sensationalism and false promises to manipulate their followers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is the plot of Elmer Gantry?
    The plot of Elmer Gantry is the story of a traveling salesman who joins an evangelist’s ministry and becomes a popular but corrupt and hypocritical preacher. He eventually realizes his own moral failings and must come to terms with the consequences of his actions.
  • What genre is Elmer Gantry?
    Elmer Gantry is a satirical novel. It is a scathing indictment of fundamentalist religion and the hypocrisy of religious leaders.
  • Who wrote Elmer Gantry?
    Elmer Gantry was written by Sinclair Lewis and published in 1927. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1926.
  • Has Elmer Gantry been made into a movie?
    Yes, Elmer Gantry has been made into a movie. It was released in 1960 and starred Burt Lancaster. It won the Academy Award for Best Actor (Lancaster).

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