Who was Sinclair Lewis? Many knew him as the author of the 1920s novel Main Street. Sinclair Lewis was also a son, a husband and a father. Sinclair Lewis's personal life often paralleled his novels in some respects. Literary critics have mixed emotions about his work. Some say his works are wonderful, while others say they are horrible. It's just a matter of opinion. In any case, writing was Sinclair Lewis' way of letting people into his life. Canadian-born Emma Kermott 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' name Harry came from, but Sinclair was the last name of a Wisconsin dentist. The dentist was a 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 three children alone (Kuntiz 821). He didn't stay with this job long. Dr. Lewis remarried within a year of Emma's death. Even with a maternal figure in his life, Harry's childhood is said to have been rather loveless (Schorer 439). After Lewis graduated from high school, he attended Yale University where he graduated in 1907 (“Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair” 314 ). As a freshman at Yale, Lewis's career as a writer began. 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 reporter (“Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair” 314). From 1910 to 1915, Lewis worked at several publishing houses....... middle of paper... is (Harry) Sinclair." The new Encyclopedia Britannica: Micropedia. 15th ed.2007. Print.Hall, Sharon K. ed. Twentieth Century Literary Criticism. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale Research, 1981. Print. Cross-reference: Boynton, Percy H. “Sinclair Lewis.” Coblentz, Stanton A. “A Shelf of Recent Books.” . Pavilion 246.Geismar, Maxwell. «Sinclair Lewis.» Pavilion 253-255.Kazin, Alfred. “The New Realism.” Pavilion 250-251.Krutch, Joseph Wood. Pavilion 255.Mencken, HL “Portrait of an American Citizen.” Pavilion 246-247.Priestley, JB “Between the Wars.” Pavilion 255-256.Whipple, TK “Sinclair Lewis.” Pavilion 248-250 and Howard Haycraft, eds. Twentieth Century Authors. New York: Wilson, 1942. Print.Schorer, Mark. American Writers. Ed. Leonardo Unger. Vol.2.New York: Scribner`s, 1974. Print.