Influential novelist, playwright, and Socialist activist (1885–1951) whose works include the classics Babbitt, Elmer Gantry, and Main Street; in 1930 he became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. ALS “signed” with an amusing self-portrait sketch, three pages both sides, 5.75 x 9.5, Penn-Harris Hotel letterhead, December 5, 1921. Lewis writes from Pittsburgh to his wife, Dolly [journalist Dorothy Thompson]. In part: “Grand day in Reading yesterday, with the Socialist city government—all humorous, realistic, intelligent…. The star, of course, was James H. Maurer who, as president of the Penn. State Federation of Labor, was one of the 3 or 4 chief opponents of Gompers, then of Willum Green, in the A. F. of L. And the exponent of real education for workers…. A grand guy—a Lighter, a Socialist, but with all the racy, burly German humor of Oscar Ameriger. As he talked, I kept thinking of Mencken…. We accompanied [Maurer] here & spent the evening with him. Gorgeous, Rabellasian stories of labor battles, of opposition to ‘dis damn vor.’ He is several generations Pennsylvania Dutch with a good strong accent. ‘Dat was a fool conwention—what the hell!’…. I kissed you in my heart….” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in his hand to “Mrs. Sinclair Lewis.” In very fine, fresh condition. R&R COA.
