If you’re curious about Graham/Lewis’ first novel, Hike and the Aeroplane is worth a look even though it bears little resemblance to his later novels.
High Point: It’s a clever plot–like a 1912 version of the Hardy Boys.
Low Point: Lewis’ description of the aeroplane, while interesting, doesn’t make a graceful trip to the 21st century.
Author: Sinclair Lewis (under the pseudonym Tom Graham)
Publication Date: 1912
Genre: Fiction – Young Adult
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Sinclair Lewis’ First Flight
If I had been a young teenager in 1912, I likely would have eaten up Sinclair Lewis’ first published novel, Hike and the Aeroplane.
Hike and his best buddy, Poodle, are the early versions of the Hardy Boys. They are high schoolers who do almost everything well—usually better than the grownups around them. They solve mysteries and make daring escapes and rescues while dealing with the challenges of growing up.
The most intriguing aspect may be the aircraft featured in the title. Aviation design and manufacture were just emerging from their infancy in 1912. Lewis used his imagination in coming up with the design and performance of his aeroplane. Although his design was unrealistic, it was creative and would likely have been seen as plausible by readers of the time.
Lewis published his first novel under the pseudonym Tom Graham. If you’re curious to see the future author of Main Street, Babbitt and Dodsworth in his literary training wheels, this adventure is worth a look—even if it bears little resemblance to those brilliant novels he would later write.
If you’re not curious, though, give Hike and the Aeroplane a pass. And be thankful Sinclair Lewis grew up to write those brilliant adult novels of the 1920s.
Sources For This Book
Free eBook (Project Gutenberg): Hike and the Aeroplane
Free Audiobook (LibriVox): Not available
Available to Purchase: AbeBooks, Biblio, Thriftbooks
