John Dos Passos
John Roderigo Dos Passos (b. January 14, 1896; - d. September 28, 1970)[1]) was a novelist best known for his trilogy of socio-historical novels, U.S.A. (1930-36). he also wrote Three Soldiers (1921), Manhattan Transfer (1925),
USA=
The USA trilogy were written from a leftist perspective and provides a kaleidoscopic portrait of America during the first three decades of the 20th century by capturing the voices of people from many walks of life. He used innovative techniques, such as "Camera Eyes" and "Newsreels" in addition to narratives and mini-biographies of real people, like Henry Ford.
By 1935 Dos Passos was disillusioned with Socialism and radicalism. He could not abide the New Deal because it bureaucratized American life and accumulated too much power. He had become a conservative, and his novels -- always political--took the perspective from traditional conservatism, with a hostility toward labor unions and Communism. He read closely in the Founding Fathers for inspiration.
Further reading
- Carr, Virginia Spencer. John Dos Passos: A Life (1984), 624pp, excessively detailed
- Kazin, Alfred. "John Dos Passos and His Invention of America," Wilson Quarterly 1985 9(1): 154-166
- Levin, Harry. "Revisiting Dos Passos' 'U.S.S'," Massachusetts Review 1979 20(3): 401-415
- Ludington, Townsend. John Dos Passos: A Twentieth-Century Odyssey (1998), good biography excerpt and text search
- Pizer, Donald. Dos Passos' 'U.S.A.:' A Critical Study (1988)
Primary sources
- Dos Passos, John. John Dos Passos: Travel Books and Other Writings 1916-1941 (Library of America, 2003)