Arrowsmith
Idealistic doctor Martin Arrowsmith struggles between research, clinical practice, and commercial pressures. The novel pits faith in science against compromise and reconsiders the ethics and responsibility of medicine.
Work Information
How far can faith in science survive contact with reality?
The ideals of the laboratory and the limits of practice steadily press in on the protagonist's choices. It is both a medical novel and a social novel about professional ethics and the erosion of self-image.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Cosimo Classics
- Published
- 1925-01-06
- Pages
- 280 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.97 x 1.6 x 21.59 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781646795987
- ISBN-10
- 1646795989
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Genre Fiction/Medical
"It is one of the major tragedies that nothing is more discomforting than the hearty affection of the Old Friends who never were friends." -Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith Arrowsmith (1926) is among Sinclair Lewis's early novels. Even so, it is usually considered one of his major works, because it was the first "scientific" novel. Inspired to write it by major reforms in the field of medical education at the time, Lewis explored the culture of science by telling the story of Martin Arrowsmith, a brilliant doctor and scientist who wants to conquer the plague virus. To ensure its authenticity, Lewis sought out the help of a science writer, and the book was so highly regarded that it was awarded a Pulitzer Prize (which Lewis declined).
SINCLAIR LEWIS (1885-1951) was one of the preeminent American authors of the twentieth century. His novel Arrowsmith won the Pulitzer Prize in 1926, and in 1929, he became the first American author to win a Nobel Prize in world literature. In novels such as Arrowsmith, Babbit, and Elmer Gantry, Lewis expressed his deep respect for egalitarian, democratic values while creating characters made memorable by the affectionate humor Lewis used to create their portraits.
Reviews
-
ロックフェラー研究所がモデルの本作で、野口英世の名が一度登場
ノーベル賞作家シンクレア・ルイスの全訳は1952年に鵜飼長寿による和訳「アロウスミスの生涯（上、下）」が唯一の全訳。なお、本書Signet Classics版には掲載されていない執筆の協力者（ドクター・パウル・Ｈ・デクルイフ Paul Henry de Kruif ）へのルイスによる謝辞は、鵜飼長寿の翻訳版には掲載されている。内容が医学的なものであることと、旧字体であることから、本書のような原著を座右にして鵜飼訳を読むという方法も勧められる。ちなみに、小学館の「ドクターアロースミス（内野儀 訳」は、本作の前半部分の抄訳であり、後半は訳されていないので注意したい。 解説は6ページで、アメリカの小説家であるＥ・Ｌ・ドクトロウによる。ドクトロウによれば、「主人公は、世間に苦労しながらも、最終的に真の自分自身に沿った生活をするに至った。」としており、「ルイスは、主人公はヒロイックではなく、常に尊敬はできないように書く必要があった。（彼の代表作の）Babbitの登場人物と、本作の主人公Arrowsmithを対照させて、現代のアメリカはArrowsmithはほとんどいないが、Babbitは沢山おり、ルイスは我々が耳にしたくないことを語る預言者である」としている。 なお、本作の後半の舞台は、野口英世が勤務していたロックフェラー研究所をモデルだが、当時、研究所で働いていた人物は２名しか実名で登場していない。野口はｐ418に以下のように言及されている。「yellow fever is on the verge of complete abolition through Noguchi’s work」.1925年に本書が出版された当時の野口への期待が感じられるが、残念ながら野口は、この2年後に黄熱ウイルスに感染してアフリカのアクラで死亡している。
-
Exciting read in times of Corona
This is a book from long ago, but still relevant in today's Covid-19 time, and the search for a vaccine. Recommended for readers who are intereted in how the microbe hunters of the early 20th century worked.
-
Typical Sinclair Lewis
Typical Sinclair Lewis. Excellent story and characters. Good story.
-
Drab read
Ok I found it drab and a laborious read but it has been appreciated all over the world so there must be Something I missed
-
Five Stars
Great read!
-
Arrowsmith
Da una lettura anni '60, forse per difetto di memoria, ricordavo Main Street interessante per conoscere gli americani ma leggermente soporifico. Arrowsmith risulta invece anche carico di humor, oltre che un prezioso reperto dell'Inglese che fu. Da non trascurare la trama che si svolge in ambito epidemico e biofarmaceutico....
Related Literary Awards
- Pulitzer Prize Edition 10 (1926) ・Winner