Babbitt

Babbitt turns the spotlight on middle America and strips bare the hypocrisy of business practice, social mores, politic... (more)

Babbitt turns the spotlight on middle America and strips bare the hypocrisy of business practice, social mores, politics, and religious institutions. In his introduction and notes Gordon Hutner explores the novel's historical and literary contexts, and highlights its rich cultural and social references. --from publisher description. (less)

(more)

Babbitt is the middle-class, average-American protagonist of this novel. Though he conforms to society and attempts to s... (more)

Babbitt is the middle-class, average-American protagonist of this novel. Though he conforms to society and attempts to scale the social ladder, Babbit gradually becomes dissatisfied with the American Dream. He branches out to test other, more rebellious ways of life. He returns to where he began, disillusioned with the equally rigid standards he has found among the non-conformists, though still holding an openness to individuality in his heart. (less)

On the surface, everything is all right with Babbitt's world. The solid, successful businessman. But in reality, George ... (more)

On the surface, everything is all right with Babbitt's world. The solid, successful businessman. But in reality, George F. Babbit is a lonely middle-aged man who doesn't understand his family, who has an unsuccessful fling at an affair, who voices sympathy for some striking workers and is almost financially ruined by his action, who finds his only safety lies deep in the fold of those who play it safe. He is a man who has added a new word to our language "Babbitt" ... a word which means a booster, a success ... a sheep. (less)