Free Air

Sinclair Lewis

• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781513279213
• eBook ISBN: 9781513279312
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

Bored of the parties and luxuries that come with her socialite lifestyle, Claire Boltwood longs for something more authentic in her life. Desperate for adventure, Claire and her father decide to travel from New York City to the Pacific Northwest in their automobile, a new privilege enjoyed by the rich. Though he is a clever businessman, Claire's father knows nothing about cars, so he encourages Claire to drive, challenging the gender stereotypes of the early 20th century. Starting in New York City, Claire and her father hit the open road, feeling exhilarated and free. As they travel northwest, they eat food from cuisine below their usual standards, see new sights, and face everyday problems that people of their privilege usually do not. Among these problems is an unexpected trouble with their car, and so the Boltwood's are forced to stay in a small town nearby as they leave their automobile in the hands of a mechanic named Milt Daggett. Born and raised in the small, unassuming town, Milt is one of the few people within the town that aspires for more in his life. But, he was caught in a rut before he met Claire. As the two grow closer and inspire drastic changes in the other's personality, Claire and Milt realize that the unfortunate circumstances that led to their chance encounter might have been the best thing to ever happen in their lives.

With surprising sentimentality and authenticity, Sinclair Lewis' Free Air awakens a yearning in its reader's soul. Featuring detailed descriptions of the Boltwood's travels and the people they meet, Free Air creates a visceral reading experience. Set during the early 20th century in various states in America, Lewis depicts themes of class, feminism, and egalitarianism as Free Air provides an intimate look into American culture.

This edition of Free Air by Sinclair Lewis features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a modern font to cater to contemporary audiences.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• I. Miss Boltwood of Brooklyn is Lost in the Mud
• II. Claire Escapes from Respectability
• III. A Young Man in a Raincoat
• IV. A Room Without
• V. Release Brakes—Shift to Third
• VI. The Land of Billowing Clouds
• VII. The Great American Frying Pan
• VIII. The Discovery of Canned Shrimps and Hesperides
• IX. The Man with Agate Eyes
• X. The Curious Incident of the Hillside Road
• XI. Sagebrush Tourists of the Great Highway
• XII. The Wonders of Nature with All Modern Improvements
• XIII. Adventurers by Firelight
• XIV. The Beast of the Corral
• XV. The Black Day of the Voyage
• XVI. The Spectacles of Authority
• XVII. The Vagabond in Green
• XVIII. The Fallacy of Romance
• XIX. The Night of Endless Pines
• XX. The Free Woman
• XXI. The Mine of Lost Souls
• XXII. Across the Roof of the World
• XXIII. The Grael in a Back Yard in Yakima
• XXIV. Her Own People
• XXV. The Abyssinian Prince
• XXVI. A Class in Engineering and Omelets
• XXVII. The Viciousness of Nice Things
• XXVIII. The Morning Coat of Mr. Hudson B. Riggs
• XXIX. The Enemy Love
• XXX. The Virtuous Plotters
• XXXI. The Kitchen Intimate
• XXXII. The Cornfield Aristocrat
• XXXIII. Tooth-Mug Tea
• XXXIV. The Beginning of a Story
• A Note About the Author
• A Note from the Publisher