Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis (1925)

Name: Arrowsmith
Author: Sinclair Lewis

Arrowsmith is a novel by Sinclair Lewis, first published in 1925. It won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for literature. The novel follows the life of Martin Arrowsmith, a young doctor from a small town in the Midwest. After graduating from medical school, Martin moves to New York City to pursue a career in medical research. He is quickly disillusioned by the commercialism and greed of the medical profession, and decides to move to the Caribbean to work on a cure for the bubonic plague. Martin's research is successful, and he is hailed as a hero. However, his newfound fame and fortune come at a cost, as he is forced to make difficult ethical decisions and compromise his ideals. In the end, Martin is forced to choose between his career and his conscience. The novel is a commentary on the state of the medical profession in the 1920s, and is considered a classic of American literature.

By Sinclair Lewis · First published 1925 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Satire, Romance · 60 chapters · 164,788 words

First lines

Dr. Woestijne of Vanderheide's Grove acted in spare time as Superintendent of Health for Crynssen County, but the office was not well paid and it did not greatly interest him. When Martin burst in and offered to do all the work for half the pay, Woestijne accepted with benevolence, assuring him that it would have a great effect on his private practice.

It did. It almost ruined his private practice.

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Arrowsmith is listed on Textopian as a novel by Sinclair Lewis, dated 1925 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Sinclair Lewis
Date: 1925 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Satire, Romance, Historical Fiction
Length: 164,788 words
Structure: 193 chapters, 5,795 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Realistic Fiction — Arrowsmith is a realistic novel that follows the life of Martin Arrowsmith, a doctor, as he navigates the medical profession and his personal life. It is a story of ambition, morality, and the struggle between science and religion.
Satire — Sinclair Lewis uses satire to criticize the medical profession and the state of American society in the 1920s. He uses humor and exaggeration to make his points, and his characters often serve as caricatures of certain types of people.
Romance — Arrowsmith follows the romantic relationship between Martin and his wife, Leora. The novel explores the challenges of maintaining a relationship while pursuing ambitious goals and the importance of communication and understanding in a marriage.
Historical Fiction — Arrowsmith is set in the early 20th century and provides a glimpse into the medical profession and American society during this time period. It also touches on the impact of World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic on the characters' lives.