H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Henry Louis Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians, and contemporary movements. His satirical reporting on the Scopes Trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey Trial", also gained him attention. The term Menckenian has entered multiple dictionaries to describe anything of or pertaining to Mencken, including his combative rhetorical and prose style.
George Bernard Shaw: His Plays
Uncover the drama of a playwright who dared to challenge society's norms through compelling characters and thought-provoking narratives.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Prejudices, second series
A writer fearlessly attacks early 20th-century American literature, lamenting its lack of depth and originality.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Heliogabalus: A Buffoonery in Three Acts
Witness the comedic chaos as an emperor's whimsical rule turns his palace into a stage for laughable antics, eccentric wives, and bizarre health woes.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
Discover how a preacher's son turned into a radical philosopher, challenging society’s values and urging individuals to strive for greatness.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
A Book of Prefaces
Explore the sharp critiques of prominent authors and their impact on American literature in this collection of thought-provoking essays.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Prejudices, first series
Venture into a time capsule of bold opinions, where a sharp-tongued observer fearlessly dissects the values, flaws, and artistic expressions of a nation on the brink of transformation.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
The American Language A Preliminary Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States
Discover how American English evolved into its own unique form, diverging from its British origins through slang, pronunciation shifts, and the vibrant influence of diverse cultures.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Prejudices, third series
Witness a collection of essays that showcase a scornful, yet amused perspective on the flaws and follies of early 20th-century America.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Damn! A Book of Calumny
Get ready to question everything you thought you knew as revered figures are dissected and societal norms are turned on their head with sharp wit and unapologetic critique.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
In Defense of Women
Prepare to have your assumptions shattered as this narrative boldly declares that women possess an unmatched intellectual prowess, challenging the very foundation of societal expectations crafted by men.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Prejudices, fifth series
Sarcastic essays reveal a nation wrestling with freedoms, morality, and the clash between progressive ideas and traditional values during a transformative era.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Prejudices, fourth series
An era's sacred cows are slaughtered with a flourish of wit, leaving no cultural stone unturned.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Notes on democracy
A sharp critique dissects the idealized image of democracy, revealing a world where the desires of the masses may overshadow true understanding and moral judgment.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Ventures Into Verse Being various ballads, ballades, rondeaux, triolets, songs, quatrains, odes and roundels, all rescued from the potters' field of old files and here given decent burial
Explore an era through diverse poems that wittily combine romance, battle, and societal reflections.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
Europe After 8:15
Two American men hilariously critique their expensive and culturally jarring European vacation.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
A Book of Burlesques
Prepare for witty social jabs and clever humor as a collection of satirical essays unveils the absurdity of life with trivial characters in comical situations.
By H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken