Prejudices, second series

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Prejudices, Second Series" by H. L. Mencken is a collection of critical essays written in the early 20th century. The work delves into various facets of American culture, particularly literature, critiquing the mediocrity and lack of depth he perceives within it. Mencken writes with sharp wit and unapologetic candor, addressing topics such as American literature's failure to produce a distinctive voice and how the country's societal structure stifles intellectualism. At the start of the volume, Mencken examines the lofty aspirations of past literary figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman, contrasting their optimistic visions for American literature with what he sees as the disheartening reality of mediocrity that has ensued. He articulates his discontent with the state of national letters, claiming a pervasive superficiality among contemporary authors and a cultural reluctance to confront deeper truths. This opening section sets the tone for a critical exploration of American artistic and intellectual life, establishing Mencken's perspective as one that challenges conventional views and celebrates intellectual rigor over societal pleasantries. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The National letters: Prophets and their visions. The answering fact. The Ashes of New England. The ferment underground. In the literary abattoir. Underlying causes. The lonesome artist. The cultural background. Under the campus pump. The intolerable burden. Epilogue

Roosevelt: an autopsy

The Sahara of the Bozart

The Divine Afflatus

Scientific examination of a popular virtue

Exeunt Omnes

The allied arts: On music-lovers. Opera. The music of to-morrow. Tempo di Valse. The Puritan as artist. The human face. The cerebral mime

The cult of hope

The dry millennium: The Holy War. The lure of Babylon. Cupid and well-water. The triumph of idealism

Appendix on a tender theme: The nature of love. The incomparable buzzsaw. Women as spectacles. Woman and the artist. Martyrs. The burnt child. The supreme comedy. A hidden cause. Bad workmanship.

Credits:

Marc D'Hooghe

Notes:

Reading ease score: 57.2 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2016-11-07