U.S.A.

Summary

The trilogy «U.S.A.» by John Dos Passos is an epic tapestry that captures American life in the early 20th century. Comprising three novels — «The 42nd Parallel», «1919», and «The Big Money» — the work explores the fates of numerous characters representing various social strata and professions. The author employs unique literary techniques, such as «newsreels», biographies of historical figures, and internal monologues, to create a multi-layered portrait of American society. Key themes include social injustice, the impact of capitalism, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Main Ideas

• Social and economic critique of early 20th-century American society
• Depiction of the American Dream and its disillusionment
• Use of experimental literary techniques like «newsreels» and «biographies»
• Portraits of various social classes and their interactions
• Impact of historical events on the lives of ordinary people
• Theme of alienation and the search for identity in a rapidly changing world

Historical Context and Significance

The trilogy «U.S.A.» by John Dos Passos, consisting of the novels «The 42nd Parallel», «1919», and «The Big Money», is a significant literary work that reflects the social and political changes in America during the first half of the 20th century. The book uses unique literary techniques, such as «newsreels» and «biographies», to create a multi-layered narrative that encompasses a wide spectrum of American society. The trilogy had a considerable influence on the development of modernist literature and became an important source for understanding American history and culture of that era.

Style and Technique

John Dos Passos's novel «U.S.A.» stands out for its unique style and structure. The book is divided into three parts: «The 42nd Parallel», «1919», and «The Big Money». The author uses a collage technique, combining various literary devices such as «newsreels», «biographies», and the «camera eye». «Newsreels» are fragments of newspaper articles, headlines, and advertisements that create the atmosphere of the era. «Biographies» include brief life stories of real historical figures, adding a documentary feel. The «camera eye» is a stream of consciousness conveying personal impressions and thoughts of the characters. The language of the work is diverse: from dry and documentary to poetic and emotional. Dos Passos masterfully captures the spirit of the time, using polyphony and multiple voices, allowing the reader to see early 20th-century America from different perspectives.

Interesting Facts

• The book consists of three parts: «The 42nd Parallel», «1919», and «The Big Money».
• Each part of the book includes four types of text: biographies, news reports, fictional stories, and «The Camera Eye», which are autobiographical fragments.
• Dos Passos used a collage technique to create a multi-layered depiction of early 20th-century American society.
• The book features real historical figures such as Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, and Woodrow Wilson.
• The work explores themes of the American Dream, capitalism, and social change.
• The book is considered one of the most important works of 20th-century American literature and has significantly influenced subsequent writers.

Book Review

The trilogy «U.S.A.» by John Dos Passos is regarded as one of the greatest achievements of 20th-century American literature. Critics praise the author's unique style, which combines elements of documentary, fiction, and modernist techniques. Dos Passos employs innovative methods, such as «newsreels» and «biographies», to create a multi-layered narrative reflecting the social and political changes in America during the first half of the 20th century. The book covers a wide range of themes, including class struggle, corruption, the American Dream, and disillusionment with it. Critics highly commend Dos Passos's ability to capture the spirit of the time and create a panorama of American life through the fates of numerous characters. His work is compared to that of authors like John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway, yet it stands out for its experimental form and depth of social analysis.