John Dos Passos and the American Century: Politics and Narrative

John Dos Passos and the American Century: Politics and Narrative by Dean Wallace offers a comprehensive analysis of the life, work, and political ideology of one of America's most innovative 20th-century writers. This book delves deeply into Dos Passos' masterpiece, The USA Trilogy, exploring how his experimental narrative techniques and fierce critique of American society encapsulate the complex dynamics of the American Century. It examines Dos Passos' responses to the political, economic, and social upheavals of his time, including the rise of capitalism, the Great Depression, the Spanish Civil War, and the global tension between fascism, communism, and democracy. Through close readings of his works, Wallace reveals how Dos Passos used literature to confront the myth of the American Dream, critique the concentration of wealth and power, and challenge the notion of American exceptionalism. Engaging with Dos Passos' evolving views on socialism, capitalism, and authoritarianism, this book places his legacy in the context of modern political thought and literary history. It is an essential resource for understanding the intersection of narrative form and political critique in American literature.