John Dos Passos Libri

Set against the backdrop of World War I, this novel draws from the author's personal diaries during his time as a volunteer in various medical roles. It presents a series of vivid, disjointed impressions that capture the chaos of war, blending haunting depictions of suffering with moments of striking beauty. The narrative's powerful simplicity conveys the urgency of the events, offering an intimate glimpse into the harsh realities of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit. Initially overlooked, it gained recognition following the success of Dos Passos' subsequent work.

Through the testimony of numerous characters, both fictional and historical figures, the author builds up a composite picture of American society in the first quarter of the 20th century. schovat popis

Unique among American novels for its epic scope and panoramic and social sweep, John Dos Passos' U.S.A. has long been acknowledged as a monument of modern fiction. In the novels that make up the trilogy - The 42nd Parallel (1930), 1919 (1932), and The Big Money (1936) - Dos Passos creates an unforgettable collective portrait of America, shot through with sardonic comedy and brilliant social observation. He interweaves the careers of his characters and the events of their time with a narrative verve and breathtaking technical skill that make U.S.A. among the most compulsively readable of modern classics. In his prologue Dos Passos writes: "U.S.A. is the slice of a continent. U.S.A. is a group of holding companies, some aggregations of trade unions, a set of laws bound in calf, a radio network, a chain of moving picture theatres, a column of stock quotations rubbed out and written in by a Western Union boy on a blackboard, a public library full of old newspapers and dogeared history books with protests scrawled on the margins in pencil...But mostly U.S.A. is the speech of the people." The trilogy is filled with American speech: labor radicals and advertising executives, sailors and stenographers, interior decorators and movie stars. The volume contains newly researched chronologies of Dos Passos' life and of world events cited in U.S.A., notes, and an essay on textual selection

The book is acclaimed for its bold realism, which reshaped American perceptions of war narratives. Praised by H.L. Mencken, it starkly contrasts romanticized portrayals, offering a meticulous and truthful account that resonates with veterans' experiences. By challenging existing sentiments, it not only altered public opinion but also clarified the memories of those who lived through the conflict. This work stands as a pivotal piece in American literature, setting a high standard for future war stories.

John Dos Passos's Manhattan Transfer follows the overlapping lives of four principal characters in a sweeping multi-faceted tale set to the soundtrack of the booming, rhythmic pulse of New York City in the 1920s. Peopled with wealthy professionals, struggling immigrants, actors, cab drivers, chefs, and shopkeepers, a portrait of New York City bursts into view with all the force of the city itself. Through a narrative collage of descriptions, snatches of conversations, music, flashbacks, streams of consciousness, and shifting perspectives, Dos Passos vividly portrays the profits and perils of the American dream. Considered by many to be his greatest novel, Manhattan Transfer is a landmark work of modernist fiction and a masterpiece of American literature.

Completing a monumental trilogy, this volume delves into America's pursuit of wealth and the accompanying moral decay. John Dos Passos weaves a narrative that critiques materialism while exploring the complexities of success. The ambitious project showcases the author's innovative storytelling and deep social commentary, capturing the essence of an era marked by both aspiration and ethical challenges.

With 1919 , the second volume of his U.S.A . trilogy, John Dos Passos continues his "vigorous and sweeping panorama of twentieth-century America" ( Forum ), lauded on publication of the first volume not only for its scope, but also for its groundbreaking style.Again, employing a host of experimental devices that would inspire a whole new generation of writers to follow, Dos Passos captures the many textures, flavors, and background noises of modern life with a cinematic touch and unparalleled nerve.1919 opens to find America and the world at war, and Dos Passos's characters, many of whom we met in the first volume, are thrown into the snarl. We follow the daughter of a Chicago minister, a wide-eyed Texas girl, a young poet, a radical Jew, and we glimpse Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Unknown Soldier. 1919 provides an incomparable portrait of America from the turn of the century to the Depression of 1929.

The book is a significant historical work that has been preserved through modern reformatting, ensuring its clarity and readability for contemporary audiences. It explores themes relevant to the Eastern Hemisphere, particularly focusing on Spain and Portugal. The effort to republish this classic highlights its enduring importance in human history, making it accessible for both present and future generations.

In this novel, Glenn Spotswood, an American, travels to Spain to fight for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. As he joins the Communist Party in pursuit of a just society, his idealism is challenged by the harsh realities of party orthodoxy and hypocrisy, reflecting John Dos Passos's own struggles.

Before John Dos Passos enjoys fame as a chronicler and critic of American society, he wins recognition for command of aesthetics. Orient Express, a memoir of the author's travels through Eastern Europe, the Near East, and the Middle East, focuses on sights, sounds, and smells rather than plot or character. Dos Passos applies his instincts as a painter to mountain ranges and grimy alleyways, finding beauty everywhere. His tour extends from Tiflis, Georgia, to Erivan, Armenia, and Marrakesh, Morocco; from Kasvin, Iran, to Baghdad, Iraq, and Damascus, Syria. He crosses the Syrian Desert, observes the aftermath of the Greek-Turkish War, climbs the Caucasus, explores Persia during the rise of Reza Kahn, and records the creation of Iraq by the British. His message is clear and relevant to contemporary travelers: holiness and happiness abounds in the East as much as the West. "With the name of Allah for all baggage," Dos Passos writes, "you could travel from the Great Wall of China to the Niger and be fairly sure of food, and often of money, if only you were ready to touch your forehead in the dust five times a day and put away self and the glamorous West. And yet," he adds, "the West is conquering."