Main Street (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Satirical Portrait of Small-Town Conformity, Feminist Aspiration, and American Midwest LifeBy Sinclair Lewis
Length21h 7m
About this audiobook
Sinclair Lewis's Main Street (1920) is a landmark of American realism and social satire, anatomizing the complacencies of small-town life through the restless idealism of Carol Milford Kennicott. Set in the fictional Gopher Prairie, Minnesota, the novel exposes provincial conformity, aesthetic barrenness, gender constraint, and the tyranny of "normal" opinion. Lewis's prose is lucid, ironic, and sharply observational, joining documentary detail with comic exaggeration; in literary context, it stands as a decisive challenge to sentimental myths of the wholesome American village. Lewis, born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, knew intimately the Midwestern milieu he transformed into fiction. His upbringing in a small town, his journalistic training, and his lifelong impatience with boosterism furnished the novel's social accuracy and satirical force. Writing in the aftermath of Progressive Era reform and amid postwar cultural self-satisfaction, Lewis gave voice to the frustrations of those who desired beauty, freedom, and intellectual seriousness within constricting communal structures. Main Street is recommended to readers interested in American identity, feminist aspiration, and the persistent conflict between individual imagination and collective habit. It remains both historically revealing and unsettlingly contemporary.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.5 (76)
Includes Amazon
GenreHumor, General Fiction
Length21 hrs 7 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 17, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
25Chapter XIX
2Introduction
26Chapter XX
3Synopsis
27Chapter XXI
4Historical Context
28Chapter XXII
5Author Biography
29Chapter XXIII
Show all chaptersShow less
6Main Street
30Chapter XXIV
7Chapter I
31Chapter XXV
8Chapter II
32Chapter XXVI
9Chapter III
33Chapter XXVII
10Chapter IV
34Chapter XXVIII
11Chapter V
35Chapter XXIX
12Chapter VI
36Chapter XXX
13Chapter VII
37Chapter XXXI
14Chapter VIII
38Chapter XXXII
15Chapter IX
39Chapter XXXIII
16Chapter X
40Chapter XXXIV
17Chapter XI
41Chapter XXXV
18Chapter XII
42Chapter XXXVI
19Chapter XIII
43Chapter XXXVII
20Chapter XIV
44Chapter XXXVIII
21Chapter XV
45Chapter XXXIX
22Chapter XVI
46Analysis
23Chapter XVII
47Reflection
24Chapter XVIII
48Memorable Quotes
It Can't Happen HereSinclair Lewis12h 24m4.0 (67.6K)$17 · $0.00
Der Mann der den Präsidenten kannteSinclair Lewis6h 10m3.5 (239)$1 · $0.00
Arrowsmith (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis20h 52m$2 · $0.00
The Greatest Works of Sinclair Lewis (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis91h$2 · $0.00
IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE (Political Dystopia) (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis16h 8m4.1 (59K)$2 · $0.00
Gesammelte Werke (Kommentiert)Sinclair Lewis109h$1.50 · $0.00
Mantrap (Kommentiert)Sinclair Lewis11h 8m3.5 (332)$1 · $0.00
The Collected Works of Sinclair Lewis (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis278h 48m$2 · $0.00
Sinclair Lewis: Die großen Romane (Kommentiert)Sinclair Lewis109h 4m$2 · $0.00
Dodsworth (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis17h 2m$2 · $0.00
Elmer Gantry (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis19h 30m4.5 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Job (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis12h 15m$2 · $0.00
Kingsblood Royal (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis14h 42m4.6 (264)$2 · $0.00
Ann Vickers (Kommentiert)Sinclair Lewis22h 25m4.1 (10)$1 · $0.00
Die Hauptstraße (Kommentiert)Sinclair Lewis16h 21m$1 · $0.00
The Man Who Knew Coolidge (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis6h 49m$2 · $0.00
Sinclair Lewis - Ultimate Collection (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis278h 49m$2 · $0.00
The Greatest Works of Sinclair LewisSinclair Lewis90h 50m4.5 (33)$2 · $0.00
Main Street & BabbittSinclair Lewis34h 43m4.4 (701)$1 · $0.00
Lost In TranslationAudrey Davis9h 15m4.4 (235)Free
Kingsblood Royal (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis14h 42m4.6 (264)$2 · $0.00
This Is Going to HurtAdam Kay5h 47m4.4 (444.7K)$24 · $0.00
You Will Get Through This NightDaniel Howell6h 56m4.4 (11.8K)$24 · $0.00
Northanger Abbey (Annotated)Jane Austen10h 7m4.5 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
My Dear HamiltonStephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie23h 7m4.4 (63.6K)$46 · $0.00
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS & SCREWTAPE PROPOSES A TOAST (Annotated)C. S. Lewis5h 6m4.4 (471K)$2 · $0.00
BufferingHannah Hart5h 55m4.4 (12.4K)$24 · $0.00
The Office BFFsJenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey8h 26m4.3 (45.4K)$26 · $0.00
The Collected Stories of Dorothy ParkerDorothy Parker8h 36m4.3 (13.6K)$1 · $0.00
LambChristopher Moore15h 22m4.3 (211.3K)$33 · $0.00
#IMomSoHardKristin Hensley, Jen Smedley7h 19m4.3 (7.3K)$24 · $0.00
Mixed PlateJo Koy8h 18m4.3 (7.1K)$26 · $0.00
Over the TopJonathan Van Ness5h 50m4.3 (87.3K)$24 · $0.00
It Never EndsTom Scharpling8h 53m4.4 (2.3K)$20 · $0.00
The Importance of Being EarnestOscar Wilde2h 31m4.3 (475.9K)$1.20 · $0.00
More Tales of the CityArmistead Maupin8h 23m4.3 (22.6K)$26 · $0.00
Joyful Recollections of TraumaPaul Scheer6h 38m4.3 (8.2K)$7 · $0.00
More Than a WomanCaitlin Moran9h 31m4.3 (16.8K)$29 · $0.00
FamesickLena Dunham11h 46m4.3 (49.7K)$29 · $0.00
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van Pelt11h 17m4.4 (1.7M)$29 · $0.00
The Ghost by the Billabong (The Matilda Saga, #5)Jackie French14h 58m4.6 (773)$33 · $0.00
Cast in BloodMichelle Sagara16h 35m4.6 (607)$33 · $0.00
The Captain Blood Trilogy (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini29h 20m4.6 (1K)$3 · $0.00
Ship of the Line (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith11h 13m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The George Orwell CollectionGeorge Orwell24h 46m4.5 (14.4K)$12 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust15h 38m4.5 (9.2K)$2 · $0.00
Driving ForceElle James4h 58m4.6 (407)$20 · $0.00
When God Calls the HeartBrian Bird, Michelle Cox3h 24m4.6 (439)$10 · $0.00
Five Little IndiansMichelle Good10h 34m4.5 (64.5K)$29 · $0.00
Lolth's WarriorR. A. Salvatore13h 20m4.6 (2.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BoisHonoree Fanonne Jeffers29h 49m4.5 (58K)$8 · $0.00
Going PostalTerry Pratchett11h 23m4.5 (189.9K)$29 · $0.00
Glen AffricKarine Giebel22h 51m4.5 (3.2K)$46 · $0.00
The Book Of NegroesLawrence Hill15h 45m4.5 (107.3K)$33 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
You may also like
Main StreetSinclair Lewis18h 56m4.0 (34.5K)$1.20 · $0.00
Main StreetSinclair Lewis18h 5m3.9 (34K)$12 · $0.00
Main Street (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis20h 28m3.9 (34.1K)$1.99 · $0.00
Main StreetSinclair Lewis20h 38m4.0 (35K)$2 · $0.00
Main StreetSinclair Lewis18h 53m3.8 (27.3K)$2.30
The Diary of a Provincial Lady: Humorous Classic from the Renowned Author of Thank Heaven Fasting, Faster! Faster! & the Way Things Are (Summarized Edition)E. M. Delafield2h 35m4.0 (9.3K)$1
Main StreetSinclair Lewis17h 29m3.9 (33.2K)$1 · $0.00
THE PROVINCIAL LADY GOES FURTHER (ILLUSTRATED)E. M. Delafield7h 11m4.2 (5.9K)$1.99 · $0.00
Where Angels Fear to TreadE. M. Forster4h 57m3.7 (25.1K)$14
The Diary of a Provincial Lady (Unabridged Edition With Original Illustrations): Humorous Classic From the Renowned Author of Thank Heaven Fasting, Faster! Faster! & The Way Things Are (Annotated)E. M. Delafield6h 24m4.1 (11.6K)$2 · $0.00
Winesburg, OhioSherwood Anderson7h 26m4.0 (47.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
Main StreetSinclair Lewis16h 22m3.8 (31.6K)$28
The Lost GirlD. H. Lawrence15h 19m3.6 (2.9K)$28
Where Angels Fear to TreadE. M. Forster5h 36m3.7 (23.3K)$2.30 · $0.00
Challenge Accepted!: The hilarious bestselling memoir and guide to life from the Australian comedy sensation, for fans of Toni Lodge and Tina FeyCeleste Barber6h 2m4.1 (9.2K)$24 · $0.00
This Particular HappinessJackie Shannon Hollis7h 27m4.2 (433)$20 · $0.00
Keep the Aspidistra FlyingGeorge Orwell9h 48m4.0 (75.7K)$2.30
Claudine at School (Annotated)Colette9h 47m3.7 (3K)$1.99 · $0.00
Mrs CraddockWilliam Somerset Maugham12h 21m3.9 (2K)$2 · $0.00
Not So Pure and SimpleLamar Giles11h4.1 (6.1K)$29 · $0.00