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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “A sprawling, kaleidoscopic journey through the first three decades of the 20th century in America as told by John Dos Passos, part newsboy, part apocalyptic seer, part carnival barker, part film director, part socialist, part anarchist . . . this is one helluva book. You may forget the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Excellent, of course. But it's important to read the version with the Reginald Marsh illustrations. ”
Casey C wrote this review Wednesday, June 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is the great ignored American masterpiece of C20. If you can get through 1500 pages, you'll be a better American and person for it.”
brad s wrote this review Thursday, January 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An early 20th century classic of historical fiction.”
Conger, Wally wrote this review Tuesday, June 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Just finished "The 42nd Parallel" and am captivated. A book about American class fluidity and the birth of labor unions at the turn of the 20th Century. Though that may sound terrible it is emphatically not. This work has great surface and is written in a very immediate style. The characters and places are only as deep as the narrative needs, giving us their “now.” Though we know the characters have depth, Dos Passos does not delve deeply into their motives or inner workings, or into any great detail in setting, he gives us a very sharp spotlight on what the characters are doing or thinking at any given moment, the rest fades into a shadowy background to give us the context. I found that to be masterfully done, a study in refining the narrative to what is necessary. If this book were a painting I’d say “The Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper, 1942.”
Michael E wrote this review Wednesday, January 23 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No2 of 2 members found this review helpful“A sprawling, kaleidoscopic journey through the first three decades of the 20th century in America as told by John Dos Passos, part newsboy, part apocalyptic seer, part carnival barker, part film director, part socialist, part anarchist . . . this is one helluva book. You may forget the characters but you won’t forget the flashes of lightning. ”
Lord Manleigh wrote this review Friday, November 16 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In some ways my recent book about the Ludlow Massacre -- Blood Passion: The Ludlow Massacre and Class War in the American West -- began with Dos Passos' trilogy. I read this years ago and it infatuated me with that era in American history, with its broad sweep of turmoil yet an engaged sense of hope. ”
smartelle wrote this review Thursday, October 25 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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