The Trail of the Hawk: a Comedy of the Seriousness of Life
Sinclair Lewis
Read by John W. Michaels
Trail of the Hawk, narrated by Mike Vendetti aka Miketheauctioneer, is Sinclair Lewis’ second novel published under his own name. It was not at the time of release a smashing success as his later works, Babbitt, Elmer Gantry, and others, but his style and immense talent are certainly evident.
We travel with The Hawk, or Carl Ericson, son of Norwegian immigrants, born at the end of the 19th century through the first three adventurous periods of the young man’s life. We see him as an adventurous boy, running away with Gertie Cowels, the girl that lives in the big house in the better part of town, only to be rescued by Bone Stillman, a backwoods philosopher and influence on Carl.
We travel with him as he leaves his childhood, Gertie and Joralemon behind, for a short attempt at higher education, then to pursue the hobo life, a Bowery bartender, an engineer in Panama and an aviator. It is during the aviator phase that he becomes Hawk Ericson barnstorming his way across America, an exciting but dangerous lifestyle. Leaving aviation after too many close calls, and the loss of his best friend, he becomes an automobile man, and moves into phase three.
It is in phase three, love adventure, that we find The Hawk in New York, mingling with polite society quite by accident. He is smitten by Ruth Winslow, while riding on a streetcar after a fight with Gertie, and follows Ruth to a party which he crashes.
I truly enjoyed narrating this novel, and believe the listener will enjoy it, a trip into post Victorian, pre-Jazz Age America.
(Summary by Mike Vendetti) (13 hr 34 min)
Chapters
Reviews
The Trail of the Hawk : A enjoyable story
Recat Routson
I recommend this book 100%
excellent tale
Austen Lennon
The reader of this audio book made the book lift out from the pages. His tone and articulation never intruded on the story line and he was superb. The author made the most amazing and wonderful description of a kiss between two lovers in this book and it was a joy to listen to. I have heard none better. I do wish that Sinclair Lewis had kept his politics out of the story as it intruded and did not assist the narrative but that is whistling in the wind.... exceptionally read book and I must look for others by the same reader.
The Trail of the Hawk: a Comedy of the Seriousness of Life
David R. Smith
Well read, fun listen - thanks!
enjoyable story well read
A LibriVox Listener
Interesting story, the reader is as good as they come.
John
What a great story and read so beautifully by Mike Vendetti.