The Man Who Knew Coolidge: Being the Soul of Lowell Schmaltz, Constructive and Nordic Citizen (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781025345376)

"The Man Who Knew Coolidge: Being the Soul of Lowell Schmaltz, Constructive and Nordic Citizen" is a sharp-witted satire by Nobel Prize winner Sinclair Lewis that delves into the psyche of the American middle class during the Roaring Twenties. The narrative is presented as a series of long-winded monologues by Lowell Schmaltz, a self-important traveling salesman and "booster" from Zenith who prides himself on his supposed friendship with President Calvin Coolidge.

Through Schmaltz's rambling anecdotes and unsolicited opinions, Lewis masterfully exposes the provincialism, materialism, and hollow optimism of the era's professional class. The work serves as a spiritual successor to Lewis's famous novel "Babbitt," refining the archetype of the "regular guy" who equates commercial success with moral virtue. Schmaltz's obsession with status, gadgets, and conformity provides a humorous yet biting critique of American society.

As a significant piece of literary social commentary, "The Man Who Knew Coolidge" offers readers a vivid window into the cultural anxieties and ideological contradictions of early 20th-century America. Lewis's keen ear for the vernacular and his uncompromising eye for hypocrisy make this a foundational text for understanding the evolution of the American identity.

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