Artists & Writers · Early 20th Century
Sinclair Lewis’s Last Words
“He died alone in a clinic outside Rome.”— Sinclair Lewis, January 10, 1951
Who Was Sinclair Lewis?
Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist who was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His satirical novels Main Street and Babbitt skewered American middle-class life.
The Final Moments
Lewis died alone in a clinic outside Rome, Italy. He had been in declining health from alcoholism.
Are These Words Verified?
Contemporary news reports confirm Lewis died alone at a clinic near Rome. This is not a quote of last words but an accurate description; he was unconscious at death and had no recorded final utterance.
Sources
- newspaper New York Times obituary, January 11, 1951
- biography Schorer, Mark. Sinclair Lewis: An American Life
Legacy
Lewis's social satires helped define American literature in the 1920s. It Can't Happen Here was a prescient warning about fascism in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Sinclair Lewis’s last words?
“He died alone in a clinic outside Rome.”
How did Sinclair Lewis die?
Sinclair Lewis died on January 10, 1951 at the age of 65. Cause of death: Heart failure and delirium tremens.
Were Sinclair Lewis’s last words documented?
Contemporary news reports confirm Lewis died alone at a clinic near Rome. This is not a quote of last words but an accurate description; he was unconscious at death and had no recorded final utterance.
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