The Job

Sinclair Lewis

Feb 2021 · Graphic Arts Books

About this ebook

After a family member tragically falls ill, Una Golden was forced to move from Pennsylvania to New York in order to get a job to help support her family. Set in the early 1900s, going to the big city as a single woman was daunting and unconventional, but Una is dedicated to helping her family. After diligently job searching and excelling in additional training and education, Una discovers that she has the skills to be a talented commercial real estate agent. Though Una is very good at her job, and the company value her, the male-dominant real estate field suggests that it is a job exclusive to men. Because of this, Una is forced to work twice as hard to earn the same respect and equity that her male coworkers are freely given. Meanwhile, Una tries to manage her love life, because it is expected for a woman to get married and Una desires a partnership. However, the sexist social standard for women expects women to work a meaningless job before marriage, and since Una is so skilled in her field, many men are too intimidated or insecure to consider her as a potential wife. Frustrated and overworked, Una is about to give up hope when she meets Edward, a charming salesman. As their romance begins to develop and Una remains dedicated to her career, she learns more about herself, encouraging her to defy convention to achieve her dreams.

The Job is praised as an early advocate for the rights of working women, a cause that author Sinclair Lewis was very dedicated to. With unforgettable and authentic prose and characters, The Job is an intriguing depiction of the 20th century workplace in America, accompanying the compelling perspective with themes of equality, gender roles, and class divides.

This edition of The Job by Sinclair Lewis features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a stylish font, making it both readable and modern.

About the author

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) was an American author and playwright. As a child, Lewis struggled to fit in with both his peers and family. He was much more sensitive and introspective than his brothers, so he had a difficult time connecting to his father. Lewis’ troubling childhood was one of the reasons he was drawn to religion, though he would struggle with it throughout most of his young adult life, until he became an atheist. Known for his critical views of American capitalism and materialism, Lewis was often praised for his authenticity as a writer. With over twenty novels, four plays, and around seventy short stories, Lewis was a very prolific author. In 1930, Sinclair Lewis became the first American to receive the Nobel Prize for literature, setting an inspiring precedent for future American writers.