Considered by many to be John Dos Passos's greatest work, Manhattan Transfer is an "expressionistic picture of New York" (New York Times) in the 1920s that reveals the lives of wealthy power brokers and struggling immigrants alike. From Fourteenth Street to the Bowery, Delmonico's to the underbelly of the city waterfront, Dos Passos chronicles the lives of characters struggling to become a part of modernity before they are destroyed by it.More than ninety years af...

Here, from the legendary author John Dos Passos and American Heritage, are portraits of three men critical to the early history of the United States: Aaron Burr, whose political skills carried him to the threshold of the White House but was ultimately indicted for treason; Lafayette, a hero of the American Revolution who could not apply his ideals to a France sliding into terror; and Robert Morris, whose skills as a financier aided the new nation but led to his own ruin.

John Dos Passos’ ground breaking novel Manhattan Transfer is a landmark literary achievement. The book attacks the consumerism and social indifference of contemporary American urban life, portraying a Manhattan that is merciless yet teeming with energy, restlessness, and possibilities that too few will ultimately share. Manhattan Transfer was inspired in part by James Joyce's Ulysses and T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land. In it we meet a large ensemble cast of characters who are struggling, fai...

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,...

The story in "Three Soldiers" is set during World War I and follows the experiences of the three main characters, John Andrews, Dan Fuselli, and Chris Chrisfield. The narrative explores their journeys, their reactions to the horrors of war, and their struggles to reconcile their personal beliefs with the harsh realities of combat.John Dos Passos was part of the Lost Generation of writers and is known for his innovative narrative techniques. "Three Soldiers" is an example of his early work ...

The first in John Dos Passos's acclaimed USA trilogy—a “linguistically adventurous national portrait for a precarious age—his, and ours” (The New Yorker).John Dos Passos's USA trilogy (comprising The 42nd Parallel, 1919, and The Big Money), named one of the best books of the twentieth century by the Modern Library, is a grand, kaleidoscopic portrait of a nation, buzzing with history and life on every page.Told in stories and "news...

In "One Man's Initiation—1917," Dos Passos provides a fictionalized account of his own experiences as a volunteer ambulance driver during World War I. The novel follows the protagonist, John Andrews, as he navigates the challenges and horrors of war, including the harsh realities of trench warfare, the camaraderie among soldiers, and the psychological toll of combat.Through vivid and often stark prose, Dos Passos captures the chaos, confusion, and brutality of war, while also exploring the...

"Rosinante to the Road Again" is a captivating work by John Dos Passos that explores the themes of travel, adventure, and the quest for meaning in life. The narrative follows the journey of a group of artists and intellectuals as they traverse the American landscape, reflecting on their experiences and the changing world around them. Dos Passos's vivid prose captures the essence of the characters' struggles and aspirations, making the reader feel the pulse of the road and the allure of fre...

Streets of Night by John Dos Passos is a novel set in the turbulent period of the early 20th century, capturing the social and political upheavals of the time. Known for his innovative narrative techniques and exploration of social issues, Dos Passos presents a compelling portrait of urban life and the struggles of individuals within it.The novel is set in a large, unnamed American city and follows the intersecting lives of several characters who navigate the challenges of their environmen...

'NBC University Theater’ initially started in Chicago with a remit to bring adaptations of classic novels, usually Anglo-American, to a radio audience.Additionally, if listeners signed up they received college credit to a radio-assisted correspondence course. A study guide, The Handbook of the World's Great Novels, was available for 25 cents.In its later years it also included short stories and plays and went on to win the distinguished Peabody award.Unlike many oth...

Tyler Spotswood, an alcoholic campaign manager, helps elect a corrupt Southern politician to the U.S. Senate. When his boss, Chuck Crawford aka "Number One," pins a scandal on Spotswood, Tyler is too drunk to blow the whistle. Number One draws many comparisons to Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men. Crawford reminds many of Louisiana politician Huey Long, a figure studied in person by Dos Passos.

Considered by many to be John Dos Passos's greatest work, Manhattan Transfer is an "expressionistic picture of New York" (New York Times) in the 1920s that reveals the lives of wealthy power brokers and struggling immigrants alike.From Fourteenth Street to the Bowery, Delmonico's to the underbelly of the city waterfront, Dos Passos chronicles the lives of characters struggling to become a part of modernity before they are destroyed by it."...