The Sinclair Lewis Library

In which the ambitious Elmer Gantry reconnects with two former seminary classmates in Zenith, encountering contrasting paths that reflect different spiritual temperaments and social standings. Meanwhile, Frank Shallard wrestles with his ideals and frustrations as a Congregational minister striving to reconcile his faith with the common life and the austere judgments of his peers.

In which Elmer Gantry and his wife Cleo settle into a modest Old Town house, investing quickly in appearances to mask their ambitions, while Elmer confronts the exhausting demands and complexities of his new Zenith pastorate. He navigates the varied personalities and rivalries among the town’s clergy, formulating grand plans to outshine them all by blending their strengths and stirring up a ferven...

In which a young clergyman named Elmer Gantry rises through ranks of small-town ministries, grappling with domestic discord and stirring the spirits of his growing congregations through fiery sermons and spirited political involvement. His ambitious nature leads him to accept a challenging pastorate in the declining Wellspring Church at Zenith, where hope flickers for revival amidst the changing u...

In which a newly appointed minister surveys the Wellspring Methodist Church with a keen managerial eye, noting its dilapidated state and the social composition of his congregation, while contemplating lively sermons to invigorate their spirits and enlarge their attendance. Amidst jovial companionship with influential church members, he boldly confronts the town’s moral landscape, stirring public i...

In which Elmer Gantry, a young Methodist minister newly married to Cleo, navigates the complex demands of small-town ministry, social expectation, and his own restless ambitions. Amidst evangelical revivals, familial ties, and the keen politics of a clerical conference, he finds himself poised on the cusp of greater opportunity and recognition.

In which Elmer Gantry settles into a small-town pulpit with a mixture of social charm and theatrical innovation, endeavouring to enliven the sleepy congregation through novel prayer-meeting techniques and literary allusions. Meanwhile, he supplements his theological studies with a curious and somewhat haphazard exploration of literature and philosophy, guided by both earnest ambition and a certain...

In which Elmer Gantry arrives at Banjo Crossing to begin his new role as a preacher, meticulously armed with a borrowed theological library and a well-rehearsed sermon, ready to inspire his flock with both solemnity and a touch of theatricality. The narrative gently paints his first Sunday services, capturing the curious blend of earnest devotion and vibrant enthusiasm that stirs the townsfolk and...

In which Reverend Elmer Gantry arrives at the modest town of Banjo Crossing, confronting the rustic reality of his new parish and its inhabitants with a blend of ambition and weary self-reflection. He finds a church to cherish, a promising young woman to admire, and a community both humbling and full of quiet possibility, sparking in him renewed resolutions of purpose and virtue.

In which a young theological graduate, Frank Shallard, embarks on his first pastoral duties feeling beset by doubts about the efficacy and sincerity of the ministry, yet finds solace and guidance in the steady presence of the gentle and mystic Methodist Reverend Pengilly. As Frank wrestles with his conscience and the skepticism of working-class townsfolk, he is drawn into a circle of liberal think...

In which the ambitious and well-dressed Reverend Elmer Gantry, fatigued by his precarious ventures in New Thought prosperity lectures, encounters Bishop Wesley R. Toomis, whose worldly yet devout character and inviting home embody a compelling contrast to Elmer’s restless aspirations. Their cordial discussions open the prospect of Elmer’s entry into the Methodist Church, promising a new kind of re...

In which Mrs. Evans Riddle presides over a thriving New Thought centre, blending mysticism and self-help with a sharp eye for profit, while the Reverend Elmer Gantry flounders in his evangelical career and tentatively steps into her curious realm of spiritual commerce. Battling loneliness and financial hardship, Gantry experiments with his own Prosperity Classes, navigating the curious intersectio...

In which a charismatic evangelist’s accidental gift for healing draws crowds and finance, prompting grandiose plans for a seaside tabernacle and crusade, while tensions and affections entwine quietly behind the scenes. The stage is set for a dramatic opening filled with fervour, music, and an ominous fire that tests faith and reveals the fragile nature of human endeavour.

In which we witness Elmer Gantry’s bustling apprenticeship to the charismatic evangelist Sharon Falconer, as they pioneer the grand and theatrical revival meetings that stretch across towns and cities, weaving sermons and spectacles with the intricacies of committee politics and skilful fundraising. Amid the whirlwind of passionate oratory, strategic manoeuvres, and the assembly of an impulsive ye...

In which Elmer Gantry and Sharon Falconer navigate the complexities and contradictions of life on the evangelistic road, balancing devotion and ambition amid the lively, sometimes chaotic company of their troupe. Their conversations with fellow preachers, disputes over methods, and spirited plans reveal a world of earnest faith tempered by the practicalities and peccadilloes of their calling.

In which a scholarly and restless cleric named Cecil Aylston journeys through various religious affiliations and wanderings before becoming the devoted yet imposing first assistant to the fervent evangelist Sharon Falconer. Meanwhile, Elmer Gantry arrives in Lincoln to join Sharon's campaign, where he first contends with the different preaching styles of Cecil and then delivers a stirring speech t...

In which a revivalist named Sharon Falconer and a newly converted salesman, Elmer Gantry, share moments of intimacy and reflection amid the faded grandeur of a Virginian estate, where illusions of heritage and destiny mingle with earnest confessions and spiritual seeking. Their uneasy yet tender companionship unfolds through candid talk, playful rivalry, and a peculiar chapel filled with exotic id...

In which Elmer Gantry departs the stifling familiarity of Babylon and tumbles headlong into the raucous life of Monarch, where he mingles with lively salesmen and contends with his own temptations and ambitions. In a swirl of camaraderie and farce, his clerical aspirations falter, leaving him to reconsider his path amid the boisterous hum of a modern city’s vices and virtues.

In which a charming but restless young salesman named Elmer Gantry, haunted by his past as a seminarian and preacher, drifts through the evangelical heartland, captivated by the fiery magnetism of the striking woman evangelist Sharon Falconer and his own ambition to reclaim his pulpit power. Amidst the humble church tents and provincial towns, Elmer plots a dazzling re-entrance into the ministry,...

In which the seminary days drag tediously for Elmer Gantry, who perfects his oratory under a professor of literature while disdainfully dismissing scholarly theological pursuits and enduring the grim tutelage of the inscrutable Dr. Zechlin. Meanwhile, the earnest and thoughtful Frank Shallard wrestles with doubts and the complex realities of faith under Zechlin’s cautious mentorship, nurturing a q...

In which Elmer Gantry’s fire and zeal meet the complicated realities of young love and small-town expectations, setting aflame passions and suspicions alike amid the piety of Schoenheim. Amidst hand-cars and hushes, misunderstandings and solemn threats, love’s tender entanglements take on a more troublesome hue under watchful eyes and unforgiving standards.

In which Elmer Gantry and Frank Shallard arrive at the Bains farm for Thanksgiving, where tensions simmer over Suspicions of impropriety and debated virtues amid a convivial church supper. Elmer, caught between desire and ambition, navigates the delicate balance of charm and caution as he courts Lulu Bains amidst the earnest piety and gentle scrutiny of her family and neighbours.

In which a young, ambitious preacher named Elmer Gantry is sent to serve a small rural church, where he sets about winning over the congregation with his earnest sermons and effusive charm, while also finding himself captivated by a local girl named Lulu. As he navigates his first pastoral duties with a mingling of zeal and youthful awkwardness, he seeks both to inspire his flock and to gently woo...

In which the earnest young Elmer Gantry returns to his Kansas hometown draped in newfound clerical dignity, preparing to enter the Baptist ministry with a voice both commanding and polished, amidst the dusty congregation of humble farmers and neighbours. With a mix of solemn ceremony and rustic charm, the ordination unfolds under cottonwood shade, revealing the quaint customs and earnest hopes of...

In which a group of aspiring Baptist clergymen, diverse in temperament and ambition, congregate in a modest seminary dormitory to spar over theology, church doctrine, and the practicalities of preaching life. Among them, the solitary Elmer Gantry wrestles with his restless spirit and aching loneliness, caught between youthful bravado and a yearning for connection.

In which Elmer Gantry is gently nudged by various figures—from college presidents to family—to consider the ministry as a path to social prestige and personal influence, though he grapples with the elusive spiritual "Call" that is said to legitimise such a vocation. Meanwhile, the surrounding voices of faculty, friends, and ageing clergy muse pensively on the value and burdens of ministry in a cha...