Main Street

By: Sinclair Lewis

Narrated by: Barbara Caruso

Widely hailed as a milestone in American literature, Sinclair Lewis' Main Street vividly describes a country on the verge of massive change, with traditional values being threatened by progress. The novel's heroine, Carol Milford, is a highly educated, ambitious woman who plans to join a newly enlightened society. But after marrying a small-town doctor, she finds herself trapped in the role of a dutiful wife. Carol's desires for social change conflict with the security of her comfortable married life, as she struggles to understand the cost of conformity...and rebellion. As relevant today as it was upon its 1920 publication, Main Street is both a masterful piece of writing and a fascinating microcosm of America's social evolution.Public Domain (P)1996 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"A most searching and excellent piece of work; a feather in the cap of literature." (John Galsworthy)

Delightful reading of an excellent book

When downloading this book, I was unsure which reading to choose. First I noticed that this reading is about 2 hours longer than the other one, meaning that the other recording was read at a much faster clip. I listened to the audio samples and decided this was the superior choice. I was not disappointed. Ms. Caruso is a fantastic storyteller. I have noticed that even excellent male readers sometimes annoy with their falsetto "female" voices, but Ms. Caruso does an excellent job with the men in this story, while of course doing a wonderful Carol. She brings the 85-year-old dialog to life with a delightful, graceful rhythm that flows as naturally as if it were written last year. I wish she had narrated more books that interested me. Maybe I'll check out "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" just for her.

As for the book itself, I was surprised by just how relevant Mr. Lewis's depiction of life in 1910s Gopher Prairie remains today. We really have not changed much as a nation. Or perhaps we've circled back around. The story of Carol chafing against the small town that thinks the world of itself (and thinks rather little of the world) is poingnant, personal and well-told, while people and attitudes of Gopher Prairie are clearly recognizable in our current national characer. Listen to this book and realize that America exists in the struggle between Carol and Gopher Prairie. Indeed, America <i>is</i> the struggle between Carol and Gopher Prairie. In 2005, as in the 1910s, GP has the upper hand. At other times the Carols of America have, and at some point they will again. But one without the other would not truly be America.

I highly recommend this Audiobook as a wonderful reading of one of the Great American Novels.

A Great Rendition - What's not to love?

Barbara Caruso does much service to this fantastic work. You have to know US history and how this book reflected the time it was written but regardless. Barbara's inflection and style makes this book come alive with honest realism even in 2020. I'm so glad I spent the credit on it.

Worth the price

I first purchased a less expensive audible version of this book and - try as I might - I simply couldn't get into the narrator's rendition of the classic. I balked at the thought of spending an additional, and relatively high, amount on a second version but finally bit the bullet. Well, it was *so* worth it! Ms Caruso's reading is engrossing - she captures the meaning and innuendos of Lewis' words in a pleasing voice.

I recommend paying the price - it will make all the difference in experiencing "Main Street."

Amazing!

I can say enough about the story and esp the performance!! Stick with it...the second half is well worth it.

On Point

I loved the character development and subtle critique of small town America! Lewis did an amazing job embodying the tension between progressive thought and conservative thought in America...and showing how, given their proper space, both can exist in the same house.