Project Gutenberg 2006-09-22 Public domain in the USA. 374 Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis) 1880 1956 Mencken, Henry Louis Hatteras, Owen Mencken, Henry L. A Book of Prefaces Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Book_of_Prefaces Joseph Conrad -- Theodore Dreiser -- James Huneker -- Puritanism as a literary force. Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "A Book of Prefaces" by H. L. Mencken is a critical essay collection written in the early 20th century. The book primarily delves into the works and philosophies of notable authors such as Joseph Conrad, Theodore Dreiser, and James Huneker, assessing their literary contributions and the broader implications of their ideas. Mencken's sharp analysis and distinctive voice provide a critical lens on the state of American literature in relation to these pivotal figures. The opening of the work sets a reflective tone as Mencken discusses the enduring relevance of the authors he critiques, particularly Joseph Conrad. He notes that underneath Conrad's works lies a pervasive melancholy and an exploration of human failure against the indifferent forces of existence. This section emphasizes the themes of pessimism and existential questioning that define Conrad's storytelling, portraying his protagonists as tragically defeated by life's uncertainties. Mencken argues that these themes serve to navigate the deeper complexities of human motivation and societal norms, setting up a profound critique of both Conrad's fiction and the larger literary landscape of Mencken's time. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 56.6 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en American literature -- History and criticism Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924 -- Criticism and interpretation Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945 -- Criticism and interpretation Huneker, James, 1857-1921 -- Criticism and interpretation PS Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: American Literature 469303 2025-07-08T08:48:56.447134 text/html 468826 2006-09-22T17:44:50 text/html 244501 2025-07-08T08:49:05.016088 application/epub+zip 247657 2025-07-08T08:48:58.704079 application/epub+zip 247657 2025-07-08T08:48:57.316088 application/epub+zip 443115 2025-07-08T08:49:09.403065 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 388341 2025-07-08T08:49:04.049092 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 365304 2022-09-09T09:02:09.088374 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 382552 2025-07-08T08:48:55.558177 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 382391 2006-09-22T17:44:50 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 382485 2006-09-22T17:44:50 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 22017 2025-07-08T08:49:09.541029 application/rdf+xml 12360 2025-07-08T08:48:57.851100 image/jpeg 3405 2025-07-08T08:48:57.584085 image/jpeg 155368 2006-09-22T17:44:50 application/octet-stream application/zip 169385 2006-09-22T17:44:50 application/octet-stream application/zip 155231 2006-09-22T17:44:50 application/octet-stream application/zip 229420 2025-07-08T08:48:56.480118 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia