Description:

Mencken Henry

1pp TLS signed by American man of letters H.L. Mencken as H.L. Mencken at center, on “The American Mercury, 220 West 42nd Street, New York” letterhead complete with stylized octagonal “AM” logo. Printed on cream parchment paper with four square Borzot Books greyhound watermarks. Letter is dated “January 15th” and probably dates from the period 1924-1928. In near fine condition, with expected paper folds. Page measures 8.5” x 11”.

 

Sharpless Dodson Green, an educator from the mid-Atlantic states, wrote H.L. Mencken shortly after Mencken and George Jean Nathan collaborated to launch The American Mercury. Green frequently contacted notables of the day to engage with his high school-aged pupils. These famous intellectuals, authors, doctors, politicians, and personalities were asked to give life advice to the graduating seniors.

 

Mencken delivers a characteristically brittle response: “Dear Mr. Green: - I am too dreadfully busy with the work of The American Mercury to attempt an intelligible message for your pupils. I can only hope that they imitate all the Christian virtues of their guardian! Sincerely yours, H.L. Mencken”. In that Mencken was a religious skeptic and atheist, it is unclear whether he meant to compliment Green by referencing his “Christian virtues” or not.

 

Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) was considered the leading wit of the early twentieth century, known for his caustic critiques of contemporary life. The novelist, poet, playwright, and essayist started his writing career as a Baltimore journalist before sharpening his teeth as a literary critic for the national magazine The Smart Set. In 1924, Mencken and fellow journalist George Jean Nathan (1882-1958) founded The American Mercury. The monthly periodical featured works by popular American writers of the day, among them William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eugene O’Neill, Langston Hughes, Sherwood Anderson, Carl Sandburg, W.E.B. DuBois, and Sinclair Lewis. Mencken legitimized American English through his comprehensive study of nationally specific usages and slang in his 1919 "The American Language".

 

An curt TLS from the “American Nietzsche” during the Roaring Twenties!

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