H L Mencken On American Literature
Editor, essayist, and social and cultural critic Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) was particularly famous in the early 20th century for being a feared book reviewer. The critical firebrand was not only blunt with American writers of his time but also didn't hesitate to make sweeping indictments of contemporary American thinking, which he found timid and superficial. This volume presents a unique and comprehensive selection of Mencken's reviews and treatises, originally published in Smart Set, American Mercury, and a few other venues. Edited by Joshi (who also edited H.L. Mencken on Religion), the book is arranged in five sections, which are titled to reflect the general spirit of the reviews and essays therein: "Establishing the Canon," "Some Worthy Second-Raters," "Trade Goods," and so on. An extensive 30-page glossary of names mentioned in the text proves vital, especially since most of them are not well-known literary or historical figures. Mencken's analyses and judgments of the best and the worst in American literature are highly recommended for literary collections and large public and college libraries. Ali Houissa, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.