Seventy five year ago, Sinclair Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in literature. He traveled the world and was welcomed in the most distinguished of literary circles. Yet he referred to himself as "Sauk Center in a Saville Row suit." Lewis grew up in the central Minnesota town of Sauk Center. His fictional town of Gopher Prairie is said to be based on it. Lewis said "to understand America, it is merely necessary to understand Minnesota." A new collection of his stories is out, and they may help readers better understand Minnesota. Sally Parry, executive director of the Sinclair Lewis society, edited the book, "The Minnesota Stories of Sinclair Lewis"". She's in Minnesota for Sinclair Lewis Days in Sauk Center, including a conference on his works. She says Lewis had a love/hate relationship with his home state.