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Arrowsmith tells the story of bright and scientifically minded Martin Arrowsmith of Elk Mills, Winnemac, as he makes his way from a small town in the Midwest to the upper echelons of the scientific community at a prestigious foundation in New York City. Along the way he begins medical school. He becomes engaged to one woman, cheats on her with another woman, becomes engaged to the second woman and then finally invites both women to a lunch to settle the issue. Frustrated with the work, he moves on to a job as a public health official in Iowa, then becomes romantically involved with the young daughter of its local director. The book's climax deals with Arrowsmith's discovery of a phage that destroys bacteria and his experiences as he faces an outbreak of bubonic plague on a fictional Caribbean island.
His scientific principles demand that he avoid its mass use on the Island until thoroughly tested, Even at the expense of lives that might be saved. Only after his wife, Leora, and all the other people who came with him from the institute to the island die of plague, does he reluctantly abandon rigorous science and begins to treat everyone on the island with the phage. While there he becomes romantically involved with a wealthy socialite, whom he later marries. In spite of his life- saving, he regards his actions on the island as a complete betrayal of science and his principles. Upon his return to New York he is heralded as a public hero for his actions on the island.
The book was popular and awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1926 which was refused by Sinclair Lewis. He was later to win the Nobel Prize for Literature-which he accepted.
About the author
Born in 1885 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, Sinclair Lewis grew up as the son of a country doctor. A bookish and imaginative child, he often felt out of place in his small-town surroundings. This sense of detachment later shaped his sharp critiques of American provincial life.After graduating from Yale in 1908, Lewis worked in journalism and publishing before finding success as a novelist. His 1920 novel Main Street became a sensation, exposing the narrow-mindedness of small-town America. He followed it with Babbitt, Arrowsmith, and Elmer Gantry, each offering bold social commentary.In 1930, Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for his vivid storytelling and satire. Despite struggles with alcoholism, he continued writing until his death in 1951. His legacy endures through his fearless critiques of American culture and society.
