Sinclair Lewis Remembered

2. Isabel Lewis Agrell

2 / Isabel Lewis Agrell In her memoir, Isabel Lewis Agrell (1916–2000), ­ Sinclair Lewis’s niece, preserved personal accounts, family documents, and even a recipe for “­ Sinclair Lewis Cookies,” which called for a shot of bourbon. Source: Isabel Lewis Agrell, ­ Sinclair Lewis Remembered (Crosslake, MN: privately printed, 1996), 35–36.­ Sinclair used to say that the only person he really wanted to impress was his brother Claude, but he was never able to do so. Untrue. Claude was very proud of his younger brother. I’m sure that ­ Sinclair exasperated Claude many times throughout their lives, but there was always a strong bond between them. I know that they both had great respect and affection for one another. Because there was over a six-­ year difference in their ages, Claude undoubtedly had little interest in including a little brother in his boyhood games and pranks. By the time Claude left home for a year of teaching after high school graduation,­ Sinclair was still in grade school. Claudemaintaineda goodandhappyrelationshipwithhisentirefamilythrough­ out his life. I think Claude thoroughly enjoyed his friendship with ­ Sinclair, in spite of the fact that he was much more conventional and even-­ tempered than his illustrious brother. In a financial record of Claude’s when he was at the University of Minnesota, one item mentioned was “Suit for Harry—$19.00.” When I questioned my mother one time about the youthful ­ Sinclair, her reply was that “he was a nice young man.” Claude was in touch with ­ Sinclair throughout their lives by letter, by phone, or in person. Within my memory, during the twenties and thirties, whenever­ Sinclair visited Claude and Mary’s home, he was treated as a very important guest. The best white linen tablecloth covered the dining room table. Large white linen napkins were a must. The best glassware, silver, and china were used. We always had white linen tablecloths and napkins, fresh every Sunday, as did Grandfather Lewis, but when 16 / Sinclair Lewis Remembered­ Sinclair came, everything was a little extra special. Our dear German maid, Katy Meyer Lang, dressed in black or white uniforms with a white organdy apron on special occasions. She said that the only thing ­ Sinclair ever complained of was the orange juice, which he thought should not be strained as she had been doing. At one dinner party, which my mother gave for ­ Sinclair when I was in high school during the ’30s, our neighbors, Bishop and Mrs. Kemerer, were invited.­ Sinclair arrived very intoxicated. Mrs. Kemerer was a good sport and humored­ Sinclair although I am sure my parents were embarrassed. Claude and Mary visited New York during the late ’20s. ­ Sinclair took them to a speakeasy and on a tour of the Île de France, the ocean liner.2 These were the only events I remember, although I am sure there must have been more, knowing ­ Sinclair’s delight in showing provincial relatives the sights of the city. ...