Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. Born Harry Sinclair Lewis in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, he became the first American to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930, in recognition of his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters. A graduate of Yale University, Lewis worked variously as a journalist and an editor before achieving critical acclaim as a novelist. His writing is noted for its satirical portrayal of American culture and its exploration of social issues such as small-town life, business culture, and religious hypocrisy. 'Elmer Gantry' (1927), one of his most renowned works, epitomizes this aspect of Lewis's literature. The book scrutinizes the life of a boisterous and hypocritical evangelical preacher, evoking controversy for its candid depiction of religious charlatanism. Representative of Lewis's larger literary style, the novel employs realism and social criticism, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions in American societal norms and beliefs. Lewis's other notable works include 'Main Street' (1920), 'Babbitt' (1922), and 'Arrowsmith' (1925), all of which offer incisive commentary on the American middle class and its cultural milieu. Despite critiques from some contemporaries for his cynicism, Lewis's literary contributions remain significant for their unflinching examination of contemporary society and their influence on the generation of writers that followed.