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{{Short description|1919 novel by Sinclair Lewis}}
{{Infobox Book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
{{No footnotes|date=October 2013}}
| name = Free Air
{{Infobox book
| image = [[Image:FreeAir.jpg|175px]]
| name = Free Air
| image_caption = 1st edition cover
| author = [[Sinclair Lewis]]
| image = File:FreeAirSinclairLewis.jpg
| country = [[United States]]
| caption = First edition cover
| language = [[English language|English]]
| author = [[Sinclair Lewis]]
| genre = [[Road novel]]
| country = United States
| publisher =
| language = English
| release_date = 1919
| genre = [[Road novel]]
| publisher =
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
| release_date = 1919
| pages = 370 pp
| isbn = NA & (reissue ISBN 0-8032-7943-4)
| media_type = Print (hardback & paperback)
| pages = 370 pp
}}
}}


'''Free Air''' is a novel written by [[Sinclair Lewis]]. A silent movie version of "Free Air" was also released on April 30, 1922. The film starred Tom Douglas as Milt Daggett and Marjorie Seaman as Claire Boltwood.
'''''Free Air''''' is a 1919 novel written by [[Sinclair Lewis]]. A [[Free Air (film)|silent film adaptation]] of the novel was also released on April 30, 1922. The film starred Tom Douglas as Milt Daggett and Marjorie Seaman as Claire Boltwood.


==Plot summary==
== Plot summary ==
{{expand section|date=October 2013}}


Long before [[Jack Kerouac]] penned his famous [[United States|American]] roadtrip epic, Sinclair Lewis wrote what may in fact be the seminal work of the genre{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}. This cheerful little road novel, published in 1919, is about Claire Boltwood, who, in the early days of the 20th century, travels by [[automobile]] from [[New York City]] to the Pacific Northwest, where she falls in [[love]] with a nice, down-to-earth young man and gives up her snobbish Estate. (From the Book Stub)
"This cheerful little road novel, published in 1919, is about Claire Boltwood, who, in the early days of the 20th century, travels by automobile from New York City to the Pacific Northwest, where she falls in love with a nice, down-to-earth young man and gives up her snobbish Estate." (From the Book Stub)


From a critical perspective, ''Free Air'' is consistent with Sinclair Lewis' lean towards [[Leftist]] politics, which he displays in his other works (most notably in ''[[It Can't Happen Here]]''). Examples of his politics in ''Free Air'' are found in Lewis' emphasis on the heroic role played by the book's protagonist, Milt Dagget, a working class everyman type. Conversely, Lewis presents nearly every upper-class character in Claire Boltwood's world (including her railroad-mogul father) as being snobby elitists. The story also champions the democratic nature of the automobile, versus the more aristocratic railroad travel. Lewis' showing favoritism towards the freedom, which automobiles would eventually accord the working and middle classes, bolster the leftist aesthetic{{Clarify|date=March 2008}}{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}. ''Free Air'' is one of the first novels about the road trip, a subject that the [[Beat generation|Beats]] (most notably [[Jack Kerouac]]), would build a cult following around roadtrip culture, in the mid-20th century).
From a critical perspective, ''Free Air'' is consistent with Sinclair Lewis's lean towards [[Egalitarianism|egalitarian politics]], which he displays in his other works (most notably in ''[[It Can't Happen Here]]''). Examples of his politics in ''Free Air'' are found in Lewis's emphasis on the heroic role played by the book's protagonist, Milt Dagget, a working-class everyman type. Conversely, Lewis presents nearly every upper-class character in Claire Boltwood's world (including her railroad-mogul father) as snobby elitists. The story also champions the democratic nature of the automobile versus the more aristocratic railroad travel. Lewis's emphasis on the freedom that automobiles would eventually give the working and middle classes bolsters the egalitarian, democratic aesthetic. ''Free Air'' is one of the first novels about the road trip, a subject around which the [[Beat generation|Beats]] (most notably [[Jack Kerouac]]) would build a cult following in the mid-20th century.


In the HBO series ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'', set initially in 1920, Jimmy and his girlfriend Pearl are reading ''Free Air''. The 18-year-old Chicago prostitute Pearl hopes to head West like the heroine, along with Jimmy.
== External links ==


== See also ==
*{{gutenberg|no=26732|name=Free Air}}
* {{wikisource-inline|Free Air}}

== External links ==
* {{Gutenberg|no=26732|name=Free Air}}
* {{librivox book | title=Free Air | author=Sinclair LEWIS}}


{{Sinclair Lewis}}
{{Sinclair Lewis}}


[[Category:American novels]]
[[Category:1919 American novels]]
[[Category:1919 novels]]
[[Category:English-language novels]]
[[Category:Novels by Sinclair Lewis]]
[[Category:Novels by Sinclair Lewis]]
[[Category:Northwestern United States in fiction]]
[[Category:American novels adapted into films]]





Latest revision as of 10:11, 27 December 2024

Free Air
First edition cover
AuthorSinclair Lewis
LanguageEnglish
GenreRoad novel
Publication date
1919
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages370 pp

Free Air is a 1919 novel written by Sinclair Lewis. A silent film adaptation of the novel was also released on April 30, 1922. The film starred Tom Douglas as Milt Daggett and Marjorie Seaman as Claire Boltwood.

Plot summary

[edit]

"This cheerful little road novel, published in 1919, is about Claire Boltwood, who, in the early days of the 20th century, travels by automobile from New York City to the Pacific Northwest, where she falls in love with a nice, down-to-earth young man and gives up her snobbish Estate." (From the Book Stub)

From a critical perspective, Free Air is consistent with Sinclair Lewis's lean towards egalitarian politics, which he displays in his other works (most notably in It Can't Happen Here). Examples of his politics in Free Air are found in Lewis's emphasis on the heroic role played by the book's protagonist, Milt Dagget, a working-class everyman type. Conversely, Lewis presents nearly every upper-class character in Claire Boltwood's world (including her railroad-mogul father) as snobby elitists. The story also champions the democratic nature of the automobile versus the more aristocratic railroad travel. Lewis's emphasis on the freedom that automobiles would eventually give the working and middle classes bolsters the egalitarian, democratic aesthetic. Free Air is one of the first novels about the road trip, a subject around which the Beats (most notably Jack Kerouac) would build a cult following in the mid-20th century.

In the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, set initially in 1920, Jimmy and his girlfriend Pearl are reading Free Air. The 18-year-old Chicago prostitute Pearl hopes to head West like the heroine, along with Jimmy.

See also

[edit]
  • Works related to Free Air at Wikisource
[edit]