H.L. Mencken: Prejudices: The First, Second, and Third Series (Library of America)

图书标准信息

• 作者 H.L. Mencken 著；Marion Rodgers 编
• 出版社 Penguin
• 出版时间 2010-09
• 版次 1
• ISBN 9781598530742
• 定价 249.20元
• 装帧 精装
• 开本 16开
• 纸张 胶版纸
• 页数 624页
• 正文语种 英语

【内容简介】

H.L.Menckenwasunquestionablythemostprovocativeandinfluentialjournalistandculturalcriticintwentieth-centuryAmerica.ThesixvolumesofPrejudices,publishedbetween1919and1927,werebothaslashingattackonwhatMenckensawasAmericanprovincialismandhypocrisyandaresoundingdefenseofthewritersandthinkershethoughtofasharbingersofanewfranknessandmaturity.Lacedwithsavagehumoranddelightinginverbalplay,Mencken'sproseremainsaone-of-a-kindroller-coasterridethroughastaggeringrangeofthemes:literatureandjournalism,politicsandreligion,sexandmarriage,foodanddrink.Inthisandacompanionvolume,TheLibraryofAmericapresentsallsixseriesofPrejudicesintheiroriginalform.Thefirstthreeseriesincludesomeofhismostfamouswriting,including"TheSaharaoftheBozart,"anattackonSouthernculturesounbridledastoearnhimwidespreadcriticismfrompoliticiansandthepress;"TheNationalLetters,"alivelyandfree-spokensurveyofwritinginAmerica;"TheDryMillennium,"ananalysisofthemultipleabsurditiesofProhibition;"ExeuntOmnes,"anunblinkingandderomanticizedcontemplationofdeath;and"OnBeinganAmerican,"ahumorouscelebrationofthepoliticalandculturalpanoramathathesawas"incomparablythegreatestshowonearth."Herearehisharshsumming-upofTheodoreRoosevelt'scareer("hedidn’tbelieveindemocracy;hebelievedsimplyingovernment")andhissympatheticportraitsofliteraryfriendslikeJamesHunekerandGeorgeJeanNathan.Mencken'saccountoftheoriginalreceptionofPrejudices,fromhismemoirMyLifeasEditorandAuthor,isincludedasanappendix.EdmundWilsonwrote:"Mencken'smind…hasallthecourageintheworldinacountrywherecourageisrare."Thatcouragemaysometimeshavebeencoupledwithaninflexiblestubbornnessthatledhimintopositionshardtodefend.Buttosucceedinggenerationsofwritersandreaders,Menckenwasthefigurewhohadriskedchargesofheresyandseditionandalmostsingle-handedlybroughtAmericaintoanewculturalera.Toreadhimistobeplungedintoanerawhoseculturewarswereeasilyasferociousasthoseofourownday,inthecompanyofacriticofvastcuriosityandvivaciousfrankness.