It Can't Happen Here

Terrifying

Sinclair Lewis in his typically sarcastic fashion crafts a tale of public complacency until it is too late. The rise of a dictatorship under the guise of national crisis is far too easily compared to the subtle loss of civil liberties we are experiencing in post-9/11 America. It leaves the modern reader with the question, 'So, who is going to start the revolution?'

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

It May Be Happening Here

On recently re-reading It Can't Happen Here, it occurred to me that many of the political restructurings and shenanagans that Lewis satired have actually taken place in recent U.S. history. Since 9/11, the current administration has created 'The Department of Homeland Security'; had it ever been suggested, Lewis might have even considered the D.H.S. himself as a titular umbrella to the fascist 'Corpos' and/or 'Minute Men' that he created in the 1935 novel. Further, Congress has actually passed the U.S. Patriot Act, federal legislation that may lead one to reflect on Buzz Windrip's 15 points from the novel. At the time the book was written, Mr. Hitler was rapidly on the rise in Germany. Now, we fear the potential expansionist policies of some or other Middle Eastern autocrat-go-international terrorist (e.g. Saddam Hussein). To those of us who dabble in writing, perhaps it is time for a new American political satire--one that integrates more current politico-economic phenomena into the weave. If any of us actually braves it, we would be hard-pressed to put out anything as timeless and on point as Lewis did with It Can't Happen Here. I cannot highly enough recommend a reading, or re-reading, as the case may be of this important 1935 novel. As you are reading, try to keep the actual events of the past several years in mind--in doing so, it will become all the more entertaining in its immaculate satiric prophecy.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Revolution As Seen By Rotarians

Only a year after Hitler and the Nazis had reached power by constitutional means in Germany, Sinclair Lewis was writing IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE. Step by step, Lewis showed how a similar fascist takeover MIGHT VERY WELL HAPPEN HERE in the sober, God-fearing USA. First, an unscrupulous but popular western Senator might defeat Franklin Roosevelt for the Democratic Party nomination for president in 1936. He would then win the general election and within eight days cow Congress into giving him power to legislate by decree. Step by step campaign rhetoric gives way to lying, deceit, violence, concentration camps and torture. *** All this is observed and participated in by small town Vermont newspaper proprietor, Doremus Jessup, a principled man who stands up to the dictatorship at no little cost to himself and his family. *** This novel depicts American anti-semitism and anti-black racism as it might play into the hands of a native American dictator. IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE is also a study in political science and sociology. The novel shows how people in power instinctively reach out to personal cruelty and torture of their opponents. *** In 2004-2005 Rotarians around the world celebrate 100 years of Rotary. As in BABBITT and ELMER GANTRY, the author once again depicts American Rotary Clubs and Rotarians as typical, easily led business-class American, just the two-legged sheep to make dictators thinkable. *** Early on (1905 - 1940) Rotary and the other eleven major service club types were lambasted by serious literary opponents. In the United Kingdom George Bernard Shaw and G.K. Chesterton made fun of pretentious small-minded businessmen and of Rotarians' irreverent practice of calling their betters by their first names. In the United States Rotary and its brethren were notably savaged by two men working almost as a team, H.L. Mencken and Harry Sinclair Lewis. To both men a typical Rotarian businessman exemplified Mencken's 'boobus Americanus.' During his heyday (1920 - 1930) Sinclair Lewis made repeated fun of Rotary and other Booster clubs. *** Every word in Chapter One of IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE is about a Vermont Rotary Club meeting held not long before the 1936 presidential election. At the height of the campaign, the novel's hero confides to two friends who will never give up resisting the dictatorship, 'This is a revolution in terms of Rotary. '*** Readers who are Rotarians will therefore watch with bated breath as the various attendees of Chapter One's Ladies Night Dinner of the Fort Beulah Rotary Club react throughout 37 more increasingly terrible chapters to the rising bloody tyranny of America's first Great Dictator. ***

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

History Repeating Itself...

I must sheepishly admit I'd never heard of this book until a month ago. Sinclair Lewis, however, is very well known and a national treasure.

While "It Can't Happen Here" was originally written in the late 1930s, it is so completely relevant now.

When reading this satirical look at the over-caffeinated chattering class of yesteryear, keep in mind the current characters: Fox News, Gingrich, Palin, Beck, McCain, C-Street, Boehner, Cornyn, Graham, Cantor, McConnell Bush, Cheney, Rove, etal!"

It is absolutely bone-chilling to know that the current level of hyperbolic rhetoric was so accurately described nearly 90 years ago.

Hold tight, and enjoy the ride

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

H

Im locked out.

——————————Flamepelt—————————

Heatherpaw

Dust, if you ever need a place to stay, go to numb first result and tell heartstar Heatherpaw sent you. She'll understand.

Breeze

Breeze- sighs "dust finish what u are telling me please"

Dust

Gtg i have latin class tomorrow. I wont be on all day until nine because i also have youth and somethimg else.

Terrifying

Sinclair Lewis in his typically sarcastic fashion crafts a tale of public complacency until it is too late. The rise of a dictatorship under the guise of national crisis is far too easily compared to the subtle loss of civil liberties we are experiencing in post-9/11 America. It leaves the modern reader with the question, 'So, who is going to start the revolution?'

It's Happening NOW!

I wandered into this little book and have loved every minute I've spent reading it! Doremus Jessup is my new hero -- a well-to-do New Englander in the '30s, with the sense to question the direction the country is taking. A must-read for folks who've been blind-sided in the last 4 years.

20th Century Classic

Though not usually considered the best of Sinclair Lewis' works, I personally found this one the most riveting. We must keep in mind that although we have the greatest nation in the history of the world, it is possible for us to get turned upside down. This novel shows just how easy it could happen. Every bit as timely now as it was when written in the 30's.

Can it happen here?

This is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed reading it; could hardly put it down. It talks about history, politics, and modern life, even though it does take place in the 30's. This book really gets you to thinking. Although somewhat difficult matter to read at times, I recommend this book to anyone. You won't be disappointed.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.