The pictures give a good overview of the condition, but in general, the condition rating of this book means it has been read but is in good condition for. I liked him so much that i bought the american language, the pillar of his bibliography, and never touched it again. The fourth edition and the two supplements, abridged, with annotations and new material by raven i. Mencken succeeds not only in providing a lucid description of the american language but also in making his readers laugh, wince, and nod in agreement. It is that rarest of literary accomplishmentsa book that is authoritative and scientific and is at the same time very diverting reading. Mencken and george jean nathan 108 downloads europe after 8. Mencken transcript contributor names jacobsen, arnold collector. Menckens wellknown work first issued in a limited edition as a preliminary inquiry in 1919, this book is the most comprehensive treatise on the american dialect ever attempted. It includes the essays one would count as the best of mencken. A carnival of buncombe 1956 cairns, huntington, ed. Mencken made still another contribution to american culture. There is no more relavant book of more than 100 years old that gives you the why behind our patois. He is remembered chiefly for his monumental work the american language al, 1919, which was instrumental in establishing the scholarly study of english in the us.
Mencken s wellknown work first issued in a limited edition as a preliminary inquiry in 1919, this book is the most comprehensive treatise on the american dialect ever attempted. Hl mencken s the american language is a creature of its time, a flexing of american cultural muscle, but it also signalled an important new chapter in english language prose. Mencken quotes inspirational quotes at brainyquote. This classic was written to clarify the discrepancies. But after 1936 hlm continued to gather new materials diligently. American journalist and social critic, born in baltimore, maryland, and educated at a local private school and the baltimore polytechnic. Mencken s 1919 book about changes americans had made to the english language. The books fortynine selections give a wide sampling of menckens work, ranging from excerpts from the nostalgic days books to examples of menckens literary criticism, political essays, reporting, commentary and more. This groundbreaking study clarifies the differences between british and american english and defines the distinguishing characteristics of american english. Menckens 1919 book about changes americans had made to the english language. Here is another candidate, the most comprehensive, thorough study of the growth of a language virtually our own that has appeared.
Unaware of my purchase, my girlfriend gave me a copy of the same book as a gift, but not before gluing the pages together and carving out the middle to camouflage my. A contribution toward the interpretation of the national mind new york. In 1919 he had published a solid volume, the american language, an attempt to bring together examples of american, rather than english, expressions and idioms. Mencken, known as the sage of baltimore, is a revered figure in american journalism. The definitive edition of the american language was published in 1936. His importance as an early and influential student of the variety of the english language peculiar to america is not seriously questioned, however. It is surely one of the most bracing books on politics in the history of the english language. A preliminary inquiry into the development of english in the united states 1919 is considered h. Henry louis, 18801956 online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article mencken, h. Bookmark file pdf american language hl mencken mencken symsys03.
Nov 14, 2004 a statement attributed to american journalist h. It grew with each reissue through the years, and in 1945 and 1948 mencken published substantial supplements. I am, and have been since early manhood, an editor of newspapers, magazines and books, and a critic of the last named. An inquiry into the development of english in the united states, first published in 1919, is h. Mencken, george jean nathan, and willard huntington wright 64 downloads the borzoi 1920. Mencken collection ms0001 4 box 1 two typed letters signed and addressed to gentlemen. Being a sort of record of five years publishing inc. Mencken 12 september 1880 29 january 1956 was an american journalist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of american english. All i ask, he wrote his publisher alfred knopf, is that you make the american language good and thick. Mencken synonyms, mencken pronunciation, mencken translation, english dictionary definition of mencken.
Anyone who fancies himherself a semanticist must have this work in hisher library. Mencken is the definitive authority on the american language. Hl menckens the american language is a creature of its time, a flexing of american cultural muscle, but it also signalled an important new chapter in english language prose. Mencken collection, enoch pratt free library books by h. The american language, first published in 1919, is h. Download file pdf american language hl mencken american language hl mencken getting the books american language hl mencken now is not type of inspiring means. Menckens groundbreaking study was undoubtedly the most scientific linguistic. Pdf the american language mohammed nasser academia. Mencken was inspired by the argot of the colored waiters in washington, as well as one of his. Mencken was unquestionably the most provocative and influential journalist and cultural critic in twentiethcentury america. Mencken talked, everyone listened in the roaring twenties, he was the one critic who mattered, the champion of a generation of plainspeaking writers who redefined the american novel, and the axswinging scourge of the know. These occupations have forced me into a pretty wide familiarity with current literature, both periodical and within covers, and in.
The american language an inquiry into the development of english in the united states h. The aim of this book is best exhibited by describing its origin. A new, completely revised and much extended edition of h. The american language by hl mencken the fourth edition. Mencken definition of mencken by the free dictionary. Mencken s book about the english language as spoken in the united states mencken was inspired by the argot of the colored waiters in washington, as well as one of his favorite authors, mark twain, and his experiences on the streets of baltimore. As an admirer of the german philosopher friedrich nietzsche, he was an outspoken opponent of organized religion, theism, populism, and representative democracy, the latter of which he viewed as systems in which inferior men dominated their superiors. As a reporter and columnist, mainly working in his hometown of. Menckens book about the english language as spoken in the united states. In this replica of the 1921 revised and enlarged second edition, mencken. Mencken gained currency on many political blogs at the end of 2004 as an expression of the way many of president george w. You could not isolated going later books buildup or library or borrowing from your connections to approach them. It is my secret ambition to be the author of a book weighing at least five pounds. On being an american baltimore evening sunoctober 11, 1920 peasant and cockney.
Mencken says alls set to put young william over if wilson gives the word. Mencken, a free text and ebook for easy online reading, study, and reference. The american language a preliminary inquiry into the development of english in the united states language. He lived in the house for most of his lifetime from 1883 until his death in 1956. An inquiry into the development of english in the united states, 4th edition mencken, h. May 03, 2019 the american language, supplement i 1945 the american language, supplement ii 1948 a mencken chrestomathy 1949 posthumous collections. My own the language the revision of which now under my health, is not spared, though in justice to it i must note that mr. Mencken gained currency on many political blogs at the end of 2004 as an expression of the way many of. Mencken 18801956 the germanamerican sage of baltimore the skeptic. Its all in wilsons hands, mencken concludes after looking around at frisco.
Perhaps the first truly important book about the divergence of american english from its british roots, this survey of the language as it was spokenand as it was changingat the beginning of the 20th century comes via one of its most inveterate watchers, journalist, critic, and editor henry louis mencken 18801956. Mencken s work is the most illuminating book on how our american language has morphed and enriched itself from within our borders. An inquiry into the development of english in the united states. This is an utterly simple means to specifically get lead by online.
Mencken collection ms0001 3 scope and contents this small collection of pamphlets, reprints, and correspondence is part of the larger collection of one hundred individually cataloged monographs and serials by and about h. Other blasts and bravos from the chicago tribune letters of h. As a scholar, mencken is known for the american language, a multivolume study of how the english language is spoken in the united states. A lifelong resident of baltimore, mencken began writing. Henry louis mencken wikisource, the free online library. An inquiry into the development of english in the united states by h. What mencken delivers here is probably the most scathing attack on the idea of mass rule that has ever been written. Mencken s book about the english language as spoken in the united states. The american language, supplement i 1945 the american language, supplement ii 1948 a mencken chrestomathy 1949 posthumous collections. The book compares the english language of england to the american language of the united states, in terms of vocabulary, syntax, usage, idiom, spelling, proverbs, slang, grammar, pronunciation, history, and intonation.
The book discusses the beginnings of american variations from english, the spread of these variations, american names and slang over the course of its 374 pages. Mencken, who reported for the baltimore sun, was known for myriad essays and his threevolume study the american language. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The first edition of the american language soon sold out, and mencken began work on the second of four editions. The project gutenberg ebook of the american language, by h. Menckens book about the english language as spoken in the united states mencken was inspired by the argot of the colored waiters in washington, as well as one of his favorite authors, mark twain, and his experiences on the streets of baltimore. The american language wikisource, the free online library. Mencken this classic was written to clarify the discrepancies between british and american english and to define the distinguishing characteristics of american english. The six volumes of prejudices, published between 1919 and 1927, were both a slashing attack on what mencken saw as american provincialism and hypocrisy and a resounding defense of the writers and thinkers. His book the american language was published in 1919 and was in its third edition when he was commissioned to write an article on the.
Mencken, which is also housed in special collections. Justice holmes arranged by alfred lief, with a forward by george w. The antichrist friedrich wilhelm nietzsche 3288 downloads. As an admirer of the german philosopher friedrich nietzsche, he was an outspoken opponent of organized religion, theism, populism, and representative democracy, the latter of which he viewed as systems. Mencken the following list is comprehensive and represents the 1st american publications of menckens work. Publication date 1949 topics other collection digitallibraryindia. The book compares the english language of england to the american. Menckens work is the most illuminating book on how our american language has morphed and enriched itself from within our borders. Mencken has seen its ups and downs since his death in 1956.