The Sinclair Lewis Library

In which Claire and Milt, navigating the precarious roads of the Pacific Northwest by night, share quiet intimacies and hopeful plans as they escort the troubled Dlorus to a tentative reconciliation with her husband. Upon reaching North Yakima, they find themselves caught between the fragile peace of domestic duties and the looming presence of the solemn men who have come searching for them.

In which a tense and curious pursuit through winding mountain roads leads to a grim discovery, and the bewildered companions find themselves embroiled in the sorrowful, tangled life of a woman bereft and bitter in a remote clearing. The strange interplay of grief, resentment, and fragile hope unfolds amid the quiet woods as they prepare to journey with her toward uncertain reconciliations.

In which Claire navigates a tense reconciliation with her companions amidst a dismal breakfast at a rough roadside inn, before pressing onward over the challenging Blewett Pass with a mixture of trepidation and resolve. Alongside Milt and Pinky, she encounters the earnest hospitality of frontier folk, sparking a candid exchange of wills and ideals that reveals their differing notions of strength a...

In which Claire Boltwood, wearied by a tire blow-out and the lonely passage through the endless Idaho pines, arrives exhausted at the squalid Pellago Tavern, where suspicion and rough hospitality await her and her ailing father. Enduring the sour temper of their hosts and the night’s uneasy watchfulness, she fends off unwelcome advances with a spirited stand, demonstrating a resilient determinatio...

In which Milt finds himself entangled in a late-night clash of manners and finances, caught between the suave Jeff Saxton and the obtrusive Pinky Parrott, while Claire reveals a fondness for the finer things that softens the rugged road. The morning light brings a regretful farewell and a reconsideration of values, as Milt contemplates generosity, etiquette, and the true direction of their journey...

In which a brash and loquacious fellow named Pinky Parrott hitches a ride with Milt, unwelcome yet inescapable, as he rambles on about mysticism and a gold-mine while gradually wearing down Milt’s resolve. Upon reaching a hospitable but subtly intimidating gathering, Milt finds himself awkwardly caught between the genteel company of Claire’s acquaintances and the persistent disruptions of his comp...

In which Claire Boltwood's solitary journey through the rugged and enchanting landscapes of Montana is interrupted by an unexpected and warmly familiar voice from the past, bringing a touch of urbane charm and luxurious surprise to the rustic setting. The arrival of Jeff Saxton ushers in a blend of old friendships, gentle tensions, and social contrasts that unwrap a new chapter in Claire’s adventu...

In which a day of mechanical mishaps and near disaster besets a young woman’s motor journey through rugged mountain roads, demanding all her resolve and the unexpected aid of a capable young companion. Together, they face the daunting trials of worn brakes, burnt-out spark plugs, and the merciless grades of the wilderness, culminating in a reluctant but cozy camp under the open sky.

In which a morning misty with frost and the bracing air of the mountains finds Milt and Claire confronting a boldly unperturbed bear, and the somber loss of a feline companion gently deepens their quiet companionship amid the rugged beauty surrounding them. Meanwhile, under the watchful eye of Claire’s father, Milt’s ambitions and intentions are measured with a blend of paternal concern and reluct...

In which a young woman and her companion find themselves spellbound by the grandeur of the Yellowstone Canyon, sharing a quiet campfire and unfolding stories that reveal the simple ambitions and modest heroism of a mechanic with dreams of broader horizons. Their conversation, warm and tentative, sketches a tableau of ordinary lives intertwined with the vastness of the American West, steeped in a g...

In which Milt takes Claire and her father on a mountainous drive through the Park, sharing his mechanical wisdom while quietly observing the social contrasts among fellow travellers and the peculiarities of high society. Amid the grandeur of nature and the quaint hotels, Claire and Milt exchange candid reflections on pride, manners, and belonging, hinting at the complexities beneath their genteel...

In which Claire journeys through the rugged expanse of the Great Highway, encountering the hearty and unpretentious “Sagebrush Tourists” who find joy in the dust and simplicity of the open road, far removed from the polished ease of chauffeured travel. She embraces the challenges and harsh beauty of the Real West, gaining a hands-on understanding of motoring mishaps and the kindly self-sufficiency...

In which a fortuitous encounter with a rogue passenger aboard the Boltwoods’ runabout leads to a tense and perilous contest of wills upon a narrow hillside road, resolved only by the brave and quick-witted intervention of a rough but resourceful stranger named Milt. The episode closes with a bittersweet parting and the lingering sense of newfound alliances and perils upon the open road.

In which Claire journeys from the expansive prairies into the wild starkness of the Bad Lands, encountering the honest resilience and ruggedness of the Western farmers and the land that shapes them. Along the way, an unwelcome and brazen passenger with sharp, gleaming eyes disrupts the journey with his crude demands and menacing bravado, creating a tense and uneasy passage as they navigate the tre...

In which a young mechanic, newly freed from his workshop drudgery, embraces the open road with wide-eyed enthusiasm, absorbing the mannerisms and refinements of travelling men and newly discovered literature while shadowing a spirited young woman ahead. His romantic hopes and insecurities mingle with poetic musings beneath the vast prairie skies, as he camps in haunted farms and navigates the bitt...

In which Claire experiences a series of small but vexing trials including a dreadful roadside meal and an inexplicable engine failure, underscoring the rugged realities and occasional cruelties of the long-distance motor tour. Along the dusty highways of North Dakota, a helpful stranger emerges with a quiet kindness and a tender awkwardness that gently disrupts her solitary journey.

In which Claire journeys across the expansive and sunlit prairies, becoming attuned to the landscape’s wide horizons, its avian inhabitants, and the down-to-earth nature of roadside folk, while gradually shedding her Eastern airs and embracing the freedom of motoring. She finds companionship in her father and the sporadic camaraderie of fellow travellers, sensing a blooming resilience that steadie...

In which Milt Daggett, the competent and ambitious proprietor of a small-town garage, finds his orderly life gently disrupted by the arrival of a stylish young woman whose quiet refinement stirs a restless longing within him. Amidst the routine of village existence and his own rumination on progress and identity, Milt makes a sudden decision to embark on a journey westward, clutching his modest be...

In which Claire Boltwood encounters the unvarnished realities of life on the road as she arrives in Gopher Prairie, grappling with fatigue, indifferent service, and the peculiar quirks of small-town hospitality. Amidst the rustic setting and unwelcoming hotel, she begins to perceive a different, grittier sort of democracy and the surprising warmth beneath its surface.

In which a spirited young woman, Claire Boltwood, finds herself mired in Minnesota mud and aided by an earnest, boyish stranger named Milt Daggett and his humble yet sprightly little car, whose unconventional charm and resourcefulness stir both hope and curiosity. Amidst rain and rustic roads, a modest luncheon in the open air reveals the delicate manners and genuine kindness of this peculiar new...

In which Claire Boltwood, a young woman of Brooklyn Heights used to genteel leisure and social trappings, finds herself frustrated by the conventional prospects offered to her and resolves to take her ailing father on a wide and arduous journey westward. Amidst the unfamiliar vastness and rustic challenges of the countryside, she confronts the humbling realities of self-reliance when their car bec...

In which Miss Claire Boltwood, a lady of Long Island refinement, boldly tackles the treacherous and muddy back roads of Minnesota in her seventy-horsepower roadster, fighting both the elements and her own inexperience to keep her father safely on their journey. The struggle takes her from spirited control to exhaustion and eventual stalemate, as the car becomes hopelessly stuck in the relentless g...

In which Carol, having spent a year in Washington, confronts feelings of alienation and longing as she encounters old acquaintances, wrestles with the mundanity of her office life, and reunites with Kennicott for a delicate second wooing amid the city’s stately monuments. Through intimate reflections and spirited conversations, she finds herself reconciling her restless ambitions with a newfound,...

In which Carol Kennicott returns to the familiar rhythms of Gopher Prairie, navigating the curious receptions and settled habits of the townsfolk while quietly nurturing her ambitions and sensing the steady pulse of domestic life. She gradually finds herself woven into the community's fabric, embracing both its constancy and its small, earnest stirrings of change amid the unyielding landscape of M...

In which the Kennicotts endure a growing estrangement as Carol’s unspoken discontent with Gopher Prairie and its patriotic fervour comes to a head, leading her to take a bold step away from the town to seek her own purpose and freedom. Amidst the shadows of war and local tensions, she embarks on a journey to Washington with her young son, embracing the unknown and the promise of a larger world bey...