"Tale of a conniving, prosperous real estate man, who becomes one of the most convincing and ugly figures in American fiction." "Real estate business. A famous book about the 'average business man.' Babbitt is an individual, however; it is the town that is portrayed as a 'type.' Babbitt attempts to revolt but rejoins the herd." "'Babbitt' captures the flavor of the United States during the economic boom years of the 1920s and its protagonist has become the symbol of middle-class mediocrity, his name an enduring part of the American lexicon."