The Job (1917 novel)

An early work by American novelist Sinclair Lewis, "The Job" is considered an early declaration of the rights of working women. The focus is on the main character, Una Golden, desire to establish herself in a legitimate occupation while balancing the eventual need for marriage. The story takes place in the early 1900-1920's and takes Una from a small Pennsylvania town to New York. Forced to work due to family illness, Una shows a talent for the traditional male bastion of commercial real estate and while valued by her company, she struggles to achieve equality due to her gender.

On a parallel track, her quest for traditional romance and love is important but her unique role as a working woman, doing a man's job, makes it tough to find an appropriate suitor. Una is a strong personality and that, combined with the then-small mindedness attitude of traditional male opinions and ongoing pressure to get married, results in a rocky road for Una.

Una is on track to marry Walter Babson, who appears to be a good solid individual but lacks the excitement of her eventual husband, Edward Schwirtz. He is a salesman with all the charm necessary to win her heart but this marriage appears (and is) doomed from the start. The next period of time is unhappy and Una eventually divorces him: which is another scandal for the time. As the book closes, Una continues unsuccessfully to salvage both her career and her personal life.

Comparing to Other Works

This novel was published before Sinclair Lewis achieved any significant fame and provides interesting insights on working women as well as the unique nature (for the time) of having a female in the lead character role. While it is considered a minor work, it has aged well and is a worthwhile read for Lewis fans.