UNITED STATES AUTHOR · AUTHORS · BIOGRAPHY
H. L. Mencken
Also known as: Henry L. Mencken, Henry Louis Mencken
Henry Louis Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. He commented widely on literature, music, prominent politicians, and contemporary movements. His satirical reporting on the Scopes Trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey Trial", also earned him attention. The term Menckenian has entered multiple dictionaries to describe anything of or pertaining to Mencken, including his combative rhetorical and prose styles. As a scholar, Mencken is known for The American Language, a multi-volume study of how the English language is spoken in the United States.
Few events brought about more heady enthusiasm for H. L. Mencken than the whirling eddies of a national political convention.
— from On politics, 1960
Most acclaimed
The new age
Draws on an eclectic mix of eastern and western spiritual philosophies to document the New Age movement's key themes, citing such influences as Hinduism and the Tibetan Book of the Dead, outlining the major "higher consciousness" models that emerged from the Transpersonal movement, and describing top contributors and periods.
On politics
1960
With a style that combined biting sarcasm with the "language of the free lunch counter," Mencken shook politics and politicians for nearly half a century. The political arena afforded Mencken a special opportunity to showcase his talents. He despised hypocrisy and found numerous easy targets among politicians. But while he could be merciless in attacking local and national leaders, Mencken always interspersed his scathing commentaries with entertaining exaggeration and high humor. This collection of seventy political pieces, drawn from Mencken's famous Monday columns in the Baltimore Evening Sun during the twenties and thirties, shows the "Sage of Baltimore" at his satirical best. While social attitudes may have changed, the value of Mencken's words on American politics offers us a timeless perspective.
In defense of Marion
1996
This documentary history chronicles what in duration and volatile intensity was the most important love relationship in H.L. Mencken's life, one that he tried to obscure and hoped would remain buried within the copious record of his achievements as author and editor. The love between Marion Bloom and Mencken flourished during a period when he wrote frequently about women's issues. In Defense of Marion both illuminates Mencken's ambivalent attitudes toward the "New Woman" and presents a particularized social history of the intellectual and personal aspirations of many women during the early twentieth century. Bloom and Mencken met in 1914 and became lovers within a few months. Their intimacy continued, on and off, until about a year before Mencken's marriage to Sara Haardt in 1930. Edward A. Martin, who supplies a wealth of interpretive notes and commentary, tells of the Mencken-Bloom affair not only through selections from their letters and diaries but also through excerpts from the personal writings of others who were close to the two and who often complicated their relationship. Such relevant figures include Sara Haardt; Estelle Bloom, Marion's sister; Theodore Dreiser, Estelle's lover and employer as an editorial assistant; and the movie star Aileen Pringle, with whom Mencken was infatuated.