Why were writers like H.L. Mencken Sinclair Lewis and Sherwood Anderson so harshly critical of American rural and small-town life in their work?

These writers were critical of American rural and small-town life because they believed it was marked by narrow-mindedness, conformity, and hypocrisy. They sought to expose the flaws and limitations of small-town values and societal norms through their writings. Their critiques aimed to challenge readers to think more critically about the realities of American life at the time.