They are as much alike as they are different.

One was the son of a physician and died from alcoholism. The other was born to a liquor salesman and died a teetotaler. They are often confused for one another even though they are unrelated. One once worked for the other one as a janitor.

They were both two of the finest writers in American history and helped shape our laws, our customs and our national identity. Both are loved and hated.

They were American critics and this country gave them plenty of fuel for their fiery prose.

They won the greatest prizes given authors, had numerous best sellers and their books were made into movies.

Together they are Sinclair Squared.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

He called him Hal.

In Sinclair Lewis Remembered, Upton Sinclair is quoted as referring to Sinclair Lewis as Hal at Helicon Hall, the utopian community in New Jersey that was destroyed by fire.

Sweet Socialist Home Alabama

Rarely is Alabama thought of as a home for a socialist colony, where redistribution of the wealth was encouraged.  But a beautiful bay will attract all schools of political thought and Alabama's Mobile Bay at Fairhope, Alabama, is no exception.  The single tax colony in Fairhope got the attention of Upton Sinclair and other intellectuals.  Sinclair moved there.