Rewind – Top Novels in 1921

Posted On May 18, 2021

What books people were reading in the past is something I have always been interested in. At the bottom of this page is a top ten list of the best selling novels in the United States in 1921, as determined by Publishers Weekly.

Of the ten most popular novels of 1921, I have read two: Main Street by Sinclair Lewis and The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

I am a big fan of Sinclair Lewis and have read most of his books, including Main Street two times. I highly recommend Main Street. Like many of Sinclair Lewis’ books, Main Street is timeless. I can see many traits that were in characters Lewis created one hundred years ago, still walking the streets in today’s modern world. He was able to satirize small town life or growing city life and all that came with it, exposing the hypocrisy and myths of American idealism.

Most of Main Street takes place in the fictional town of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. Lewis grew up in Sauk Cenre, Minnesota.

I read The Age of Innocence once and notice I currently own a copy, so I will read it again. I know I enjoyed the period piece and learning about the world of high society in the Gilded Age that Edith Wharton presented beautifully. I look forward to reading The Age of Innocence again and refreshing my memory.

The Age of Innocence was made into a silent film in 1924, a talkie in 1934 and 1993, the later directed by Martin Scorsese. All three are interesting to watch.

Main Street was initially awarded the Pulitzer Prize for literature for 1921 by the committee, before it was rejected by the board on political grounds. In Effect, Edith Wharton became the first women to win the Pulitzer for The Age of Innocence.

I am curious about the eight other novels I haven’t read. If you have read any or have opinions of, they are always welcome.

The Sheik was written in 1919 by English novelist Edith Maude Hall. It was the sixth most popular novel in the United States in 1921 and increased to the 2nd most popular in 1922. The Sheik was the first in a series of novels Hall wrote that had a desert setting. It is said that this helped generate a major revival of the desert romance, a romantic fiction genre. The novel opens in a hotel in the Algerian city of Biskra.

The fifth most popular book of 1921 was The Valley of Silent Men. The synoposis from Googe books goes as follows, “A police officer on a deathbed makes a confession of a murder that an innocent man is about to be hanged for. A beautiful and mysterious young woman knows something about the murder, but has deep reasons to keep it hidden from all except the Chief of Police, who also has reasons of his own for it to stay a secret.”

The author James Oliver Curwood was known as an action and adventure writer and was very successful in the 1920’s. Curword stories were astounding in their popularity to be used in film. Over 180 of his novels or short stories were used in motion pictures or the inspiration for. At the time of his death in 1927, Curwood was the highest paid author in the world by word. See the Curwood Castle below in Owosso, Michigan, inspired by his travels in Europe.

The Brimming Cup was the 2nd most popular novel in 1921, a book by Dorothy Canfield, who was a strong supporter of racial equality and women’s rights. Eleanor Roosevelt named her one of ten most influential women in the United States. I am sure The Brimming Cup is a good and interesting read.

A lot of wonderful books to explore out there. I hope you enjoy like I do!

Main Street by Sinclair Lewis

The Brimming Cup by Dorothy Canfield

The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

The Valley of Silent Men by James Oliver Curwood

The Sheik by Edith M. Hull

A Poor Wise Man by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Her Father’s Daughter by Gene Statton-Porter

The Sisters-in-Law by Gertrude Atherton

The Kingdom Round the Corner by Coningsby Dawson