Who was Sinclair Lewis? Many knew him as the author of the 1920s novel Main Street. Sinclair Lewis was also a son, husband and father. Sinclair Lewis' personal life is often paralleled, in certain aspects, with his novels. Literary critics have mixed emotions about his work. Some say his works are wonderful, while others say they are horrible. This is all just a matter of opinion. Regardless, writing was Sinclair Lewis' way of letting people into his life. Emma Kermott, a Canadian by birth, gave birth to Harry Sinclair Lewis on February 7, 1885 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota (Kuntiz and Howard 821; Schorer 439). ; “Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair” 314). No one knows where Lewis' first name Harry came from, but Sinclair was the last name of a Wisconsin dentist. The dentist was a very good friend of Harry's father, Dr. Emmet J. Lewis. Harry was also the youngest of three boys. When Harry was only five years old, his mother Emma died (Schorer 439). Emma's death left her husband, Dr. Lewis, to raise their three children alone (Kuntiz 821). He did not remain in this position for long. Dr. Lewis remarried less than a year after Emma's death. Even with a mother figure in his life, Harry's childhood is said to have been rather loveless (Schorer 439). After graduating from high school, he attended Yale University where he graduated in 1907 ("Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair" 314). ). Lewis's writing career began while he was a freshman at Yale. Lewis was the only freshman to have a poem published in the Yale Literary Magazine. This famous poem was “Lancelot” (Schorer 439). For a short time after college, Lewis worked as a journalist (“Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair” 314). From 1910 to 1915, Lewis worked at several different publishing houses....... middle of paper ...... he (Harry) Sinclair. The New Encyclopedia Britannica: Micropaedia. 15th ed.2007. Print. Hall, Sharon K. ed. Literary criticism of the 20th century. Vol.4. Detroit: Gale Research, 1981. Print. Cross-reference: Boynton, Percy H. “Sinclair Lewis.” Hall 247-248. Coblentz, Stanton A. “A Shelf of Recent Books.” Hall 246. Geismar, Maxwell. “Sinclair Lewis.” Hall 253-255.Kazin, Alfred. “The new realism”. Hall 250-251. Krutch, Joseph Wood. “Sinclair Lewis.” Hall 255.Mencken, HL “Portrait of an American Citizen.” Hall 246-247.Priestley, JB “Between the Wars”. Hall 255-256.Whipple, T.K. “Sinclair Lewis.” Lobby 248-250. Kuntiz, Stanley J. and Howard Haycraft, eds. 20th century authors. New York: Wilson, 1942. Print. Schorer, Mark. “Sinclair Lewis.” American Writers. Ed. Leonard Unger. Vol.2.New York: Scribner's, 1974. Print.