In 1925, Sinclair Lewis published Arrowsmith, a novel that would cement his reputation as one of America’s greatest satirical writers. A century later, this gripping tale of ambition, scientific integrity, and the moral dilemmas of medicine remains strikingly relevant. Though Arrowsmith won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1926, Lewis famously declined the award—the first writer ever to do so—citing his distaste for literary prizes and their tendency to favor “sentimental” works over those with real social critique.
Now, as Arrowsmith turns 100, we revisit its enduring impact, the controversies surrounding its publication, and why Lewis’s scathing critique of the medical and scientific establishment feels just as timely in today’s world.
The Making of Arrowsmith
Lewis, best known for his biting social satires like Babbitt and Main Street, was fascinated by the world of science and medicine. But he wasn’t a doctor. To make Arrowsmith as authentic as possible, he enlisted the help of renowned bacteriologist Paul de Kruif, who provided extensive scientific background and insight into the medical profession. The result was one of the most realistic portrayals of scientific research and public health struggles ever put to paper.
At its heart, Arrowsmith is the story of Dr. Martin Arrowsmith, an ambitious but deeply flawed physician who grapples with the conflict between pure scientific discovery and the pressures of the medical industry. From his early days as a medical student to his work in public health and experimental bacteriology, Arrowsmith is torn between the desire for recognition and his commitment to scientific integrity.
Through his journey, Lewis exposes the greed, bureaucracy, and ethical compromises that plague the world of medicine—issues that remain just as urgent a century later.
A Novel Ahead of Its Time
What makes Arrowsmith so remarkable, even 100 years after its publication, is how eerily prescient it feels. Lewis was writing about Big Pharma and the commercialization of medicine long before those terms became part of everyday discourse.
- The struggle between science and profit – Arrowsmith constantly battles hospital administrators, pharmaceutical companies, and public health officials who prioritize profits over real medical breakthroughs.
- The ethics of medical experimentation – One of the novel’s most controversial elements is Arrowsmith’s decision not to distribute a possible plague cure widely, instead insisting on controlled testing to maintain scientific rigor. This dilemma mirrors modern debates over clinical trials, vaccine distribution, and medical ethics.
- The cult of personality in medicine – The novel critiques how doctors and scientists are often treated as celebrities, their reputations overshadowing actual scientific progress. In an age where figures like Anthony Fauci, Elon Musk (via biotech ventures), and corporate-funded researchers dominate public discourse, Lewis’s observations feel especially sharp.
Why Lewis Rejected the Pulitzer Prize
In 1926, Arrowsmith was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction—an honor most authors would have gladly accepted. But Sinclair Lewis wasn’t most authors. He rejected the award, writing that the Pulitzer tended to reward novels that promoted a “wholesome atmosphere of American life” rather than books that challenged societal norms. He believed Arrowsmith was too critical of institutions, too unsentimental, and too focused on the flaws of American medicine to be truly appreciated.
His refusal made history and solidified his reputation as a literary rebel. But it also revealed the uneasy relationship between literature and establishment approval—a tension that still exists today.
A Century Later: Why Arrowsmith Still Matters
In an era where public health crises, medical misinformation, and the influence of big corporations on science are hot-button issues, Arrowsmith remains astonishingly relevant. The novel’s themes—scientific ethics, the dangers of profit-driven medicine, and the conflict between ambition and integrity—resonate as much now as they did in 1925.
As we mark 100 years of Arrowsmith, it’s worth asking: Have we learned anything? Or are we still making the same mistakes Sinclair Lewis warned us about a century ago?
One thing is certain—whether you’re a scientist, a doctor, or simply someone who has ever questioned the motives behind modern medicine, Arrowsmith is more than just a novel from the past. It’s a warning for the future.
