Prejudices, First Series

Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.4

Word count: 333K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Prejudices, First Series by H. L. MenckenAuthor: Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 16, 2016

Editor's review

Prejudices, First Series is a collection of Mencken's critical essays, embodying his sharp, provocative, and argumentative style. The pieces address social mores, literary criticism, and cultural phenomena, with the author known for irony and blunt judgments; the reading is brisk and dense with opinion. The public-domain ebook from Project Gutenberg is easy to search and excerpt, making it a useful introduction to early twentieth-century American intellectual criticism. One need not agree with all its positions; it can be read as a window onto the cultural debates of the time. For readers studying English argumentative and essay writing, its sentence patterns and modes of argument also offer reference value. Read with a critical eye, distinguishing the context of the era from universal issues.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early twentieth-century American intellectual and cultural criticism
Advanced language learners studying English argumentative and essay writing
Literary readers studying Mencken's style and the tradition of periodical commentary
Readers who enjoy sharp, ironic prose and can tolerate controversial views

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic academic argument or a complete theoretical framework
Readers put off by a satirical, mocking style
Learners not yet proficient in English who need easy reading material

Reading tips

Read essay by essay, briefly noting the author's arguments and evidence after each.
Look up unfamiliar names and events for background before rereading the original.
Start with essays on literary criticism to lower the barrier to entry.
After reading, try writing a rebuttal or supplement to train critical reading.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a novel or a collection of criticism?

It is a collection of Mencken's critical essays, not a novel. It gathers pieces on social, literary, and cultural topics, notable for argument and satire, and is best read essay by essay.

Can I understand it without knowing American history?

You can, but some pieces involve figures and events of the time, and missing background weakens comprehension. Look up unfamiliar proper names as you go, or read one essay to get a feel for the style before deciding how deeply to go.

Do Mencken's views represent general consensus?

Mencken is known for a controversial, anti-mainstream stance, and his views carry strong personal judgment rather than general consensus. Read with the historical context in mind, distinguish rhetorical strategy from factual statement, and keep your own judgment.

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About the author

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

H. L. Mencken (Henry Louis Mencken, 1880–1956) was a prominent American writer and critic. Public information on the details of his life is limited, but his work is distinctive. The library holds ten of his books, covering language study, social criticism, and philosophical commentary. The American Language examines the development and character of American English and is an important work in language study; the Prejudices series (First, Second, and Third Series) offers sharp essays on society, literature, and cultural life; The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche introduced Nietzsche's thought to English-language readers at an early date; and In Defense of Women, Damn! A Book of Calumny, and A Book of Prefaces display his satirical and argumentative style. His writing is known for its directness, wit, and critical spirit.