Free Air

by Sinclair Lewis, Mint Editions (Contribution by)

Overview

Bored of the parties and luxuries that come with her socialite lifestyle, Claire Boltwood longs for something more authentic in her life. Desperate for adventure, Claire and her father decide to travel from New York City to the Pacific Northwest in their automobile, a new privilege enjoyed by the rich. Though he is a clever businessman, Claire’s father knows nothing about cars, so he encourages Claire to drive, challenging the gender stereotypes of the early 20th century. Starting in New York City, Claire and her father hit the open road, feeling exhilarated and free. As they travel northwest, they eat food from cuisine below their usual standards, see new sights, and face everyday problems that people of their privilege usually do not. Among these problems is an unexpected trouble with their car, and so the Boltwood’s are forced to stay in a small town nearby as they leave their automobile in the hands of a mechanic named Milt Daggett. Born and raised in the small, unassuming town, Milt is one of the few people within the town that aspires for more in his life. But, he was caught in a rut before he met Claire. As the two grow closer and inspire drastic changes in the other’s personality, Claire and Milt realize that the unfortunate circumstances that led to their chance encounter might have been the best thing to ever happen in their lives.

With surprising sentimentality and authenticity, Sinclair Lewis’ Free Air awakens a yearning in its reader’s soul. Featuring detailed descriptions of the Boltwood’s travels and the people they meet, Free Air creates a visceral reading experience. Set during the early 20th century in various states in America, Lewis depicts themes of class, feminism, and egalitarianism as Free Air provides an intimate look into American culture.

This edition of Free Air by Sinclair Lewis features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a modern font to cater to contemporary audiences.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781513207216
Publisher:	Mint Editions
Publication date:	08/10/2021
Series:	Mint Editions (Literary Fiction)
Pages:	218
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) was an American author and playwright. As a child, Lewis struggled to fit in with both his peers and family. He was much more sensitive and introspective than his brothers, so he had a difficult time connecting to his father. Lewis’ troubling childhood was one of the reasons he was drawn to religion, though he would struggle with it throughout most of his young adult life, until he became an atheist. Known for his critical views of American capitalism and materialism, Lewis was often praised for his authenticity as a writer. With over twenty novels, four plays, and around seventy short stories, Lewis was a very prolific author. In 1930, Sinclair Lewis became the first American to receive the Nobel Prize for literature, setting an inspiring precedent for future American writers.

Table of Contents

I. Miss Boltwood of Brooklyn is Lost in the Mud
II. Claire Escapes from Respectability
III. A Young Man in a Raincoat
IV. A Room Without
V. Release Brakes—Shift to Third
VI. The Land of Billowong Clouds
VII. The Great American Frying Pan
VIII. The Discovery of Canned Shrimps and Hesperides
IX. The Man with Agate Eyes
X. The Curious Incident of the Great Highway
XI. Sagebrush Tourists of the Great Highway
XII. The Wonders of Nature with all Modern Improvements
XIII. Adventurers by Firelight
XIV. The Beast of the Corral
XV. The Black Day of the Voyage
XVI. The Spectacles of Authority
XVII. The Vagabond in Greens
XVIII. The Fallacy of Romance
XIX. The Night of Endless Pines
XX. The Free Woman
XXI. The Mine of Lost Souls
XXII. Across the Roof of the World
XXIII. The Grail in a Back Yard in Yakima
XXIV. Her Own People
XXV. The Abyssinian Prince
XXVI. A Class in Engineering and Omelets
XXVII. The Viciousness of Nice Things
XXVIII. The Morning Coat of Mr. Hudson B. Riggs
XXIX.The Enemy Love
XXX. The Virtuous Plotters
XXXI. The Kitchen Intimate
XXXII. The Cornfield Aristocrat
XXXIII. Tooth-Mug-Tea
XXXIV. The Beginning of a Story

Editorial Reviews

Travel from Minnesota to Seattle brings an upper-class family down to earth in this early effort from Lewis. (June)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

[Lewis] really seems to catch the sweep and exhilaration of the great open country over which his characters wind their way.”

New Republic

An American story in every page…Amusing, interesting, alive to its final period.”

New York Times