Thanks for the link on Mencken. I really don’t know him and the little bit I read gives the impression that he had strong opinions for his times — in some ways I keep bumping into his time, or at least see the times from which he speaks more clearly than what he wants to say. Maybe it’s his style, as well. I know he influenced a lot of people and many appreciate him for his wry humor and wit.
I know the humanities in the university doesn’t prepare you for anything anymore — and graduates can’t even think or write well. Just look at the courses. You can take courses on “Tree Climbing” or “The Etymological meaning of the word s-h-i-t” and write essays like “The Transgender Perspective on Urban Lesbian Poetry” which qualifies you for a whole lot of discontent when you leave the hallowed halls of academia. You ‘d be lucky to get a job in a comic book store. So Trump has the right idea to find out what people make.
Imagine a guy who was the America's leading newpaper pundit and also leading literary critic as the same time.
Mencken was a towering figure in his era. One can learn a great deal about writing style from him, too. He also wrote several books on a wide range of subjects.
And I would also put him on a par with Trump or Scott Adams for understanding the psychology of his fellow man.
My favorite review of Mencken reads:
In other words, Mencken would fit right in here at Free Republic!
I would highly recommend buying the Smart Set anthology if you enjoy literature and want to hear what Mencken has to say about Joseph Conrad, Mark Twain, and a host of many unknown authors.
But the safest bet is Marian Rodgers' selection of his best newspaper stories: The Impossible H. L. Mencken.
Check out (from this book) what Mencken said about Beethoven. One his best essays:
The Source of Beethoven's Musical Genius: His Greater Dignity as a Man