Being a sort of record of five years publishing inc. Mencken the following list is comprehensive and represents the 1st american publications of menckens work. The project gutenberg ebook of prejudices, second series. Reporter, editor, essayist, and columnist mencken did it all, and with a certain literary flare. Henry louis mencken september 12, 1880 january 29, 1956 was an american journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of american english. Mencken stipulated that this memoir remain sealed in a vault for thirtyfive years after his death. Henry louis mencken september 12, 1880 january 29, 1956 was an american journalist. Henry mencken brought me to the baltimore evening sun in 1947, and for the next eight years except when i was representing the sun abroad. Mencken 1922 all the while i have been forgetting the third of my reasons for remaining so faithful a citizen of the federation, despite all the lascivious inducements from expatriates to follow them beyond the seas, and all the surly suggestions from patriots that i succumb.
Mencken the capacity of human beings to bore one another seems to be vastly greater than that of any other animal. Every step in human progress, from the first feeble stirrings in the abyss of time, has been opposed by the great majority of men. Mencken was the most outspoken defender of liberty in america. In the six volumes of prejudices 19191927, mencken attacked what he felt to be american. Henry mencken brought me to the baltimore evening sun in 1947, and for the next eight years except when i was representing the sun abroad we met regularly, in his home at 1524. Mencken september 12, 1880 january 29, 1956, was an american journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of american life and culture, and a student of american english. According to an associated press story, menckens views shocked even the sympathetic scholar who edited it, charles a. An introduction sometime in 1927 lou wylie submitted a poem to the american mercury, a leading journal of letters and opinion. Menckens autobiographical trilogy, happy days 1940, newspaper days 1941, and heathen days 1943, is devoted to his experiences in journalism. Menckens sahara of the bozart is one of the most famous essays of 20th century american letters. Mencken was ruthless, both in content and his choice of subject, though he did use humor.
People found very little of the ridiculous in an economic catastrophe, and so menckens view of life as a circusa view which remained essentially. Mencken on the writing life, mencken was an influential satirist as well as an editor, literary critic, and longtime journalist with the baltimore sun. Sealed for 25 years since his death in 1956, the diaries of the once popular critic and newspaperman only now have been edited from the original manuscript, which is three times longer than the selections brought together here by mencken scholar fecher. Mencken, known as the sage of baltimore, is regarded as one of the most influential american writers and prose stylists. A selection of his writings on music together with an account of h. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook. More arrows bouncing off the great hl mencken independent. Biography henry louis mencken was an american journalist, editor, satirist and critic who was biting sharp in their analysis of american life and culture. Since its appearance in 1919, the essay has become widely regarded as menckens slur on the south, as his acidlaced repudiation of southern culture. Mencken s musical life and a history of the saturday night club. Mencken quotes inspirational quotes at brainyquote. Eight volumes will contain material from the smart set. Mencken, known as the sage of baltimore was a journalist, critic, satirist and editor and was the role model for renowned twentieth century writers like fitzgerald, james joyce, sinclair lewis, eugene oneill and f.
He boldly denounced president woodrow wilson for whipping up patriotic fervor to enter world war i, which cost his job as a newspaper columnist. The library of america interviews marion elizabeth rodgers. His satirical reporting on the scopes trial, which he dubbed the monkey. He is issuing these books through amazons createspace print and kindle ebook platforms. And, of course, it is a necessity for the devoted mencken fan.
The american iconoclast and editor of menckens days trilogy. Mencken collection ms0001 3 scope and contents this small collection of pamphlets, reprints, and correspondence is part of the larger collection of one hundred individually cataloged monographs and serials by and about h. He rose to become drama critic, editor of the sunday paper, and city editor of the morning paper. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians and contemporary movements. The project gutenberg ebook of prejudices, second series, by. Mencken was a famous writer from usa, who lived between september 12, 1880 and january 29, 1956. Oct 10, 2016 marion elizabeth rodgers is the biographer of mencken.
Rex tillersons alleged comment that president trump was a moron g2, 12 october brings to reality the words of hl mencken in the baltimore sun 26 july 1920. The project gutenberg ebook of prejudices, second series, by h. Mencken and george jean nathan 108 downloads europe after 8. A contribution toward the interpretation of the national mind new york. When, in the summer of 1920, the editors of the baltimore sun undertook plans to cover. As he recounts his career as a critic, essayist, and editor of the groundbreaking magazine smart set, mencken brings us face to face with the. To read him is to be plunged into an era whose culture wars were easily as ferocious as those of our own day, in the company of a writer of boundless curiosity and vivacious frankness. Henry louis mencken september 12, 1880 january 29, 1956, was an american journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of american life and culture, and a scholar of american english. Being various ballads, ballades, rondeaux, triolets, songs, quatrains, odes and rondels, all rescued from the potters field of old files and here given a decent. Mencken library of congress published by salem press, inc. His satirical reporting on the scopes trial, which he dubbed the monkey trial, also gained him attention.
Mencken 12 september 188029 january 1956, was an american journalist, editor, and essayist. A second mencken chrestomathy 1994 thirtyfive years of newspaper work 1996. Expanded edition, recently published by the library of america. Joshi has begun issuing editions of menckens early newspaper and magazine work as part of a longrange project titled the collected essays and journalism of h. York magazine called the smart set was the brightest periodical of its time. Mencken the trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of ones time defending scoundrels. Mencken was the most provocative and influential journalist and cultural critic in twentiethcentury america. Mencken became one of the most influential and prolific journalists in america in the 1920s and 30s, writing about all the shams and con artists in the world. Mencken just plain antisemitism the washington post. Mencken this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Henry louis mencken wikisource, the free online library.
Mencken collection ms0001 4 box 1 two typed letters signed and addressed to gentlemen. The project gutenberg ebook of prejudices, third series, by h. Knopf published menckens secret diary as the diary of h. Henry louis, 18801956 online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article mencken, h. Menckens literary and social criticism for the baltimore sun papers and chicago tribune, his books among them a. Knopf, 1920, also by george jean nathan gutenberg text and page images. As you read his arguments in favor of the death penalty, consider how and why mencken injects humor into his discussion of a grim subject. Mencken mises wiki, the global repository of classicalliberal. Mencken say what you will about the ten commandments, you must always come back to the pleasant fact that there are only ten of them.
Mencken would skewer hillary clinton and donald trump. He spent thousands of dollars challenging restrictions on freedom of the press. I dont necessarily wholly agree with nor dsagree with the thoughts shared by hl mencken, and i dont need tobut he has shared them clearly and without pandering. Marion elizabeth rodgers is the biographer of mencken. Joshi in homo neandertalensis, mencken gets categorical while defending the risks enlightened people, the educated minority, take to ameliorate our condition. Oct, 2017 rex tillersons alleged comment that president trump was a moron g2, 12 october brings to reality the words of hl mencken in the baltimore sun 26 july 1920. He was also a literary scholar in american literature. After rejecting two of the most familiar arguments against capital punishment, mencken, a newspaper reporter, editor, and columnist known for his cynicism, rests his own case on a knowledge of human nature and especially the desire for catharsis, a healthy letting off of steam.
Though something of an event for menckenites, the publication of these diaries reveals little that wasnt already known from the famous. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all. Mencken collection, enoch pratt free library books by h. Early on, mencken displayed a tremendous zest for life. These more carefully workedover critical essays are, on the whole, less interesting and provocative than the irresponsible comment he gives us in his magazine.
Apr 15, 2020 henry louis mencken september 12, 1880 january 29, 1956 was an american journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of american english. The editors of encyclopaedia britannica this article was most recently revised and updated by adam augustyn, managing editor, reference content. Mencken, known as the sage of baltimore was a journalist, critic, satirist and editor and was the role model for renowned twentieth century writers like fitzgerald. Mencken, editor of that magazine, wrote wylie that her poem had been accepted and would appear in a forthcoming issue. Mencken, in his roles as editor, writer, and critic, kept an everwatchful eye on american politics, letters. Mencken proved to be unusually resourceful and industrious. Mencken, george jean nathan, and willard huntington wright 64 downloads the borzoi 1920. Better examples of mencken s satire can be found, but as an introduction to the authors gruff charm and bombast, my life as author and editor is wellsuited. Hl mencken predicted a moron in the white house brief. Sometimes it is simply a matter of seeing a different perspective, or seeing how someone else views something through their words. Mencken gives the impression of an able mind so harried and irritated by the philistinism of american life that it has not been able to attain its full power. Since its appearance in 1919, the essay has become widely regarded as menckens slur on the south, as his acidlaced repudiation of southern culture indeed his assertion that the south had no culture.
Mencken quotes on government, democracy, and politicians. He attacked chiropractors and the ku klux klan, politicians and other journalists. Mencken, known as the sage of baltimore, is regarded as one of the most influential american writers and prose stylists of the first half of the 20th century. If you agree with mencken that the death penalty is. If the truth be known, it would have been the hotel bar that felt the impact of menckens weeklong boycott. In his capacity as editor, mencken became close friends with the leading literary figures of his time. Pig tracks of the sage obody ever lost money undmestimating the amdcan people.