Babbit

Babbitt
by Sinclair Lewis

Babbit is a deeply pessimistic view of the white-bred conservative suburban Americana already popular in the 1920’s. Written in 1922, it is clear that this book could just as easily have been written today. The main character, a plump middle-aged real-estate broker named Mr. Babbit, represents [almost] everything Lewis finds contemptable about what he obviously sees as the over-arching hypocrisy that defines American capitalist conservatism.

The book is sardonic and derisive nearly from cover to cover, but an intriguing look into the roaring/prohibitionist twenties, and a reminder of how little things have changed in the nearly ninety years since Babbit was written. The book is long-winded and often seems to ramble on in any way the wind blows, opting to rant about Republicanism in lieu of real plot. If you love to hate suburbanite Bible-belt conservatives, you might find this aspect of the book enjoyable. I admit I found it a challenge to immerse myself in the book, though I did enjoy it.

While it might appear that Lewis is ranting and raving about Conservatism, as I believe he thought he was, I actually think that the underlying evil that he addresses in this book is cultural homogenity and manufactured happiness. This latter message is one with which I can certainly agree.