Main Street

Main Street, published in 1920, is Sinclair Lewis’s satirical portrayal of small-town life in America. The novel follows Carol Kennicott, an idealistic young woman who moves to Gopher Prairie, Minnesota, with her new husband and attempts to reform and modernize the conservative town. Facing social resistance and conformity, Carol struggles with isolation and disappointment. Lewis critiques provincialism, gender roles, and the myth of American progress. Main Street was a literary sensation and remains a classic of social commentary.