Free Air

Written by Sinclair Lewis

Narrated by Barrett Whitener

Claire Boltwood and her father drive their roadster cross country, exposing themselves to all the perils of early motoring. But with both the Boltwoods, the greatest distance to be overcome is the social one, between their upper-class society and an unpretentious mechanic named Milt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio
• Release date: Jan 1, 2006
• ISBN: 9780786111466

Sinclair Lewis

Nobel Prize-winning writer Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) is best known for novels like Main Street, Babbitt, Arrowsmith (for which he was awarded but declined the Pulitzer Prize), and Elmer Gantry. A writer from his youth, Lewis wrote for and edited the Yale Literary Magazine while a student, and started his literary career writing popular stories for magazines and selling plots to other writers like Jack London. Lewis’s talent for description and creating unique characters won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930, making him the first American writer to win the prestigious award. Considered to be one of the “greats” of American literature, Lewis was honoured with a Great Americans series postage stamp, and his work has been adapted for both stage and screen.

Reviews for Free Air

[coffyman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one fun read! Fascinatingly old fashion. Sinclair Lewis has a glib voice that draws you in and keeps you wanting to see what happens next.

[lindawwilson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good enough to read straight through. A nostalgic tale about America before WWI with a sweet old fashioned love story.

[lyzzybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My third Sinclair Lewis novel after “Arrowsmith” and “Main Street”, and I really like his portrayals of early 20th century America and Americans. Here we find Claire, driving her father from New York to Seattle, and Milt, a rather unsophisticated man she encounters on the way, who determines to look after her and captures her heart, but finds himself out of his depth. Well written and very perceptive on the effect of our social surroundings on our character and behaviour. An unfortunate animal death notwithstanding, a fine book, and an author I will continue to look out for.