Description

Alfred A. Knopf, 1921. Hardcover, 266 pp. Revised and Enlarged Edition. Good / NO dust jacket. Black cloth covered boards with gold lettering on front and spine. Light bumping to edges and corners and light overall scuffing, fading and soiling. Spine has a few hairline cracks but binding is still solid. Previous owner's name and date in ink on front paste-down. Otherwise pages are lightly aged but unmarked. A satirical and critical examination of American society and its widely held beliefs, first published in 1920 and revised in 1921. The book dissects the misconceptions and contradictions within American ideals, particularly focusing on the pursuit of liberty and self-advancement amidst societal constraints. Nathan and Mencken explore the psychological and cultural factors shaping the American character, challenging both internal and external perceptions of national identity. George Jean Nathan (1882 - 1958) was an influential drama critic and editor, while H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956), known as the "Sage of Baltimore," was a journalist and satirist celebrated for his incisive commentary on American culture.