FIRST EDITION OF ELMER GANTRY, SIGNED BY SINCLAIR LEWIS
LEWIS, Sinclair. Elmer Gantry. New York: Harcourt, Brace, (1927). Octavo, original blue cloth.
First edition, second issue of Lewis’ controversial bestseller, signed by him on the front pastedown: "Oke Rev. Fr. Sinclair Lewis."
Praised by H.L. Mencken, Sinclair Lewis' controversial novel of religious hypocrisy "was an instant bestseller… sales were further stimulated when Boston banned it and the evangelist Billy Sunday dubbed Lewis 'Satan's Cohort… A satire of American religious life, Elmer Gantry may be seen as a cautionary tale for 'born again' America" (Parker, 121-22). In 1930 Lewis became the first American author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Adapted to film in 1960 by director Richard Brooks, the film was nominated for five Oscars. Second issue, with "Gantry" spelled correctly on book spine, corrected from "Cantry." Without scarce original dust jacket. Pastore 13, 31. Contemporary newspaper clipping tipped to front pastedown, above Lewis' signature.
Minor rubbing to corners and ends of gently toned spine. An extremely good signed copy.