Main Street (Version 2)
Sinclair Lewis
Read by Mark Nelson
Carol Milford, a college-educated, progressive, ambitious young woman, is self-sufficient working as a librarian in St. Paul, when she meets a country doctor, Will Kennicott, who convinces her to marry him and move to the rural Minnesota town of Gopher Prairie. She arrives with dreams of beautifying the town, of establishing art and culture, of improving lives and promoting child welfare, but whose spirit is gradually and inexorably crushed by small-town attitudes, ignorance and bigotry. First published in 1920, Main Street is Sinclair Lewis' first major novel, and was a phenomenal success at the time. In 1930 Lewis would be the first American to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. - Summary by Mark Nelson (18 hr 14 min)
Chapters
Introduction | 2:03 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 1 | 26:04 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 2 | 17:28 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 3 | 28:39 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 4 | 58:07 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 5 | 34:47 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 6 | 31:37 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 7 | 31:18 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 8 | 13:53 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 9 | 24:00 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 10 | 35:34 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 11 | 51:48 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 12 | 21:14 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 13 | 18:39 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 14 | 36:24 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 15 | 46:33 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 16 | 25:07 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 17 | 28:39 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 18 | 31:30 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 19 | 25:17 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 20 | 24:36 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 21 | 28:04 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 22 | 28:03 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 23 | 31:27 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 24 | 44:22 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 25 | 22:05 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 26 | 18:11 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 27 | 7:11 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 28 | 35:52 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 29 | 36:05 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 30 | 31:05 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 31 | 21:23 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 32 | 31:48 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 33 | 33:34 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 34 | 17:12 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 35 | 17:11 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 36 | 16:47 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 37 | 14:25 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 38 | 29:10 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Chapter 39 | 17:11 | Read by Mark Nelson |
Reviews
Main Street
Shane48
Of all the LibriVox books I’ve read, Main Street was the most enjoyable because the reader, Mark Nelson, was absolutely perfect for his role. He was able to shift voices convincingly, perfectly capture the sometimes-nuanced humor, and sound like an educated person from the Gopher Prairies of early 20th century America. Great book! Bravo, Mr. Nelson!Raymond Restaino
Robert Kaufman
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Many of the attitudes and struggles people faced in this story are still being faced today.
Poor Carol...
TwinkieToes
She's energized by the idea of changing the town - its architecture, its lack of high culture, its dullness - but every attempt she makes is thwarted. Eventually she even rejects her husband for his lack of culture and uncouthness. She keeps kicking against the goads, but only hurts herself. How far will she go? Will she ever accomplish reform, or will she have to escape before drowning in the mediocrity? I don't like the author's mocking of religion and dumping all religion into the refuse pile, but it's a common attitude of his time. Reader is excellent; sound quality is excellent.
surprisingly excellent
Akku
I was put off by the description of the book, it’s only that it’s Mark Nelson reading it and then I realised I’d enjoyed one by this author that I gave it a go. I am glad I did. It’s an excellent work of fiction and a superb social study and commentary. It’s amazing that it’s 100+ years since it was published because there are so many resonances today. Mark Nelson does a fantastic job of reading this and brining these fascinating and complex characters to life and the resolution to the story is very satisfying too.
jmarymca
The narrator did a very good job. The novel is slow and not much happens. I was bored often by it. I wouldn’t recommend it.
GD Cambs
Very good reading, very authentic and nuanced for a listener like me who is not from the US.
Well read by the narrator, but sort of a slow story
A LibriVox Listener
Mark did well, Lewis is aweful
The_ocelot
Mark Nelson did a fine job as always, but the story was so mundane. I honestly feel the whole thing was a waste of time; nothing happened.