If you enjoy reading novels by Sinclair Lewis then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy reading Sinclair Lewis, you may appreciate books by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck writes stories set mostly in America during challenging periods like the Great Depression.
In his book “The Grapes of Wrath,” Steinbeck describes the struggles of the Joad family as they leave Oklahoma for California. They hope to find a better life, but along the way they face many hardships and disappointments.
Steinbeck shows how ordinary people deal with poverty and injustice, and the story becomes very emotional because readers connect so strongly to the characters.
Sherwood Anderson is an American writer who captures everyday life in small-town America. His book “Winesburg, Ohio” follows the lives of people living in a small Midwestern town named Winesburg.
Each chapter of the book introduces a different town resident, revealing what they dream about and struggle with behind closed doors.
Anderson portrays the ordinary yet sometimes strange lives of his characters without judgement, giving readers a sincere look into rural American life.
People who enjoyed Sinclair Lewis’s depictions of life in a small town in “Main Street” might find similar appeal in Anderson’s honest and straightforward approach.
Upton Sinclair was an American writer known for novels about social issues and injustice. His novel “The Jungle” tells the story of immigrant workers in Chicago’s meatpacking industry. Sinclair describes their difficult living conditions and unfair treatment at work.
He also shows how unsafe food production was at that time. One interesting part of the story is the way he describes factories and their poor sanitation.
Readers who enjoy Sinclair Lewis’s stories about small-town life and social themes might also find Sinclair’s realistic portrayals and themes valuable to explore.
Edith Wharton was an American novelist who explored the lives of wealthy society people in early twentieth-century America. Her book “The Age of Innocence” follows Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to May Welland, a respectable young woman from a prominent New York family.
When May’s cousin Countess Olenska returns from Europe after a scandalous separation, Archer feels increasingly drawn to the Countess.
Wharton reveals the rules of high society in a way that fans of Sinclair Lewis might appreciate, offering readers a clear look at how social expectations affect personal decisions.
Theodore Dreiser was an American author known for writing realistic novels about everyday people and situations. His book “Sister Carrie” follows a young woman named Carrie who moves to Chicago, meets people who change her life, and tries to find success in a fast-changing city.
The novel shows the ups and downs of city life in the early 1900s, where wealth and poverty exist side by side. Dreiser talks openly about decisions people make for money, love, or comfort without judging them.
Readers who enjoy Sinclair Lewis’s “Main Street” or “Babbitt” might also appreciate Dreiser’s honest and direct storytelling in “Sister Carrie.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American author known for novels that captured the mood of America in the 1920s. His book “The Great Gatsby” is set in the wealthy areas around New York City during this time, and it follows a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby.
Gatsby throws huge parties at his mansion, but nobody really knows much about him. The story is told by his neighbor, a young man called Nick Carraway, who tries to understand Gatsby’s life and desires.
The writing is clear and engaging, the characters feel real, and the story explores class differences and ambition in early twentieth-century America.
If you enjoy Sinclair Lewis’s sharp observations about American life and social pretensions, you may find Fitzgerald appealing as well.
If you like Sinclair Lewis, you might also enjoy Mark Twain. Twain often writes about everyday Americans, and he tells their stories with humor and clear insight. A perfect example is “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
This book follows the mischief and adventures of Tom, a clever young boy from a small town along the Mississippi River. Tom’s life seems simple at first, but soon becomes full of unusual situations and memorable events.
For instance, there is that famous scene where Tom cleverly convinces his friends to paint a fence for him. Twain captures the real, everyday feel of rural American life, and readers who appreciate that quality in Lewis’s writing might find Twain interesting, too.
Ernest Hemingway wrote novels and short stories with simple and clear language. His style is direct and stripped down, without complex phrasing or unnecessary words. Readers who enjoy Sinclair Lewis may also like Hemingway’s book “The Sun Also Rises.”
It follows a group of American and British expatriates traveling from Paris to watch bullfighting in Spain. This novel explores the lives of characters who struggle to find purpose after World War I.
Their conversations and actions reveal hidden tensions beneath the everyday scenes Hemingway describes.
William Faulkner was an American writer from Mississippi who wrote about life in the American South. His stories often explore small town life and social tensions, themes readers of Sinclair Lewis may find familiar. A good book to start with is “As I Lay Dying.”
It follows the Bundren family, as they go on a journey to honor their mother’s final wishes. Each family member has a unique point of view, which allows readers to see the story from different sides.
The family faces several setbacks and tensions along the way, making their journey complicated and dramatic. Faulkner’s writing is clear yet powerful. It captures the struggles of daily life and family bonds in a very real way.
Willa Cather was an American author known for her novels about ordinary people in the Midwest and Great Plains regions. Her stories often focus on characters who struggle and persevere in difficult situations.
In her book “O Pioneers!”, Cather describes the lives of immigrant settlers who face harsh conditions on the Nebraska prairie. The main character, Alexandra Bergson, must handle challenges from family and neighbors while she tries to make her farm successful.
Readers who enjoy Sinclair Lewis might appreciate Cather’s portrayal of small-town life and strong individual characters.
Frank Norris was an American novelist who wrote vivid stories about people facing social and economic challenges in their everyday lives. If you enjoy Sinclair Lewis’ focus on American society and realistic characters, you might appreciate Norris’ novel “The Octopus.”
This book follows the struggles of wheat farmers in California against a powerful railroad company. Norris creates convincing characters who fight for their livelihoods in the face of corporate greed and corruption.
Through the farmers’ experiences, readers see clearly how uncontrolled power can affect ordinary people.
Richard Wright was an American author who wrote about race and society in a straightforward way. If you appreciate how Sinclair Lewis portrays social issues, you might find Wright’s novel “Native Son” interesting.
The book tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young African American man trapped by poverty and racism in Chicago. After a tragic event, Bigger’s life changes dramatically, leading him into conflict with powerful social forces.
Wright shows readers the harsh reality of America in a way that feels honest and direct.
Saul Bellow was an American novelist who often wrote about complex characters and their place in modern society. His novel “Herzog” follows Moses Herzog, a man facing personal struggles after his second divorce.
Herzog spends much of his time writing letters he never sends to friends, famous people, and even the dead. These letters reveal Herzog’s sharp and sincere insights about love, failure, and modern life’s confusion.
Readers who enjoyed Sinclair Lewis’ critical look at American culture in novels like “Babbitt” may appreciate Saul Bellow’s exploration of human weakness and humor in “Herzog.”
John Dos Passos was an American author who wrote vividly about life in early twentieth-century America. His novel “Manhattan Transfer” captures New York City from various points of view and provides an honest look at the ambitions and struggles of city dwellers.
Readers who appreciate Sinclair Lewis’s realistic storytelling and insight into American society would feel right at home with Dos Passos.
In “Manhattan Transfer,” Dos Passos explores daily life in New York City through the lives of diverse characters—bankers, actors, immigrants—and weaves their experiences into a powerful narrative.
James T. Farrell is an author from Chicago who wrote about life in urban America during the early 20th century. Readers who enjoy Sinclair Lewis might find Farrell’s novel “Studs Lonigan” interesting.
This book follows a young man named Studs as he grows up on Chicago’s South Side. Studs tries to find his way through family struggles and the pressures of city life. Farrell gives an honest look at the dreams and disappointments of regular working-class people.
The story feels real and straightforward, with situations ordinary people face every day. Farrell tells it plainly, with no fancy words or complicated ideas.