Consciously I was neither radical nor conservative; and yet my reading was drawing me inevitably out of the narrower field of polite literature into the new world of social thought that was rising about me. Carlyle; Ruskin; Morris became increasingly my teachers-above all others Morris. I have always been a rebel; I think; but with the bias of my training in art and letters I must enter the field of radicalism through such an avenue if at all. My economics must be sugar-coated for me. Shelley ought to have aroused me; or William Blake; but they did not. And it was not till William Morris came with the charm of his prose style that I was shaken out of the lethargy of the cultural. To enter the field of modern social thought through the avenue of art may seem strange to a younger generation; but it was a common experience in days when Ruskin and Morris were prophets to a world content with its smug Manchesterism. -Vernon Louis Parrington (1918) H. LARK HALL presents the first comprehensive biography of Vernon Louis Parrington (1871-1929). The recipient of the 1928 Pulitzer Prize in history for the first two volumes of his Main Currents in American Thought (3 vols.; 1927; 1930); Parrington remains one of the most influential literary and historical scholars of the early 20th century. Parrington was a man in search of a personal myth. He found his self-image successively mirrored in Victorian novels; painting; poetry; Populism; religion; the arts and crafts movement; American literature; and American history. These changes also were reflected in his teaching as a professor of English at the College of Emporia; the University of Oklahoma; and the University of Washington. Published late in his career; Main Currents represented the culmination of his search. Drawing upon previously inaccessible personal papers-including correspondence; diaries; Harvard student course work; Main Currents chapter drafts; and other unpublished writings-Hall traces Parringtons intellectual development from his midwestern childhood through a midlife engagement with English poet and artist William Morris; then from the radical impact of "the new history" to the tempered postwar reflection of his late career at the University of Washington. Her reinterpretation of Main Currents emphasizes Parringtons concern with the drama of the life of the mind and links his historical viewpoint to his own personal history.
#4191124 in eBooks 2009-01-08 2009-01-08File Name: B00AO446I4
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Some interesting interviews...but....the writer gets annoying...By GlennFirst; let me say that I think this is a great idea for a book. Its always interesting to hear what techniques producers have used to get the best from the artists with whom they are paired. Sure...many of stories are very self indulgent and can only be entertained by the top .0001% of the "music industry". I mean; lets face it; most people dont have anywhere near the budget that these artists get to record their project. Having said that; Theres no need for the author to constantly; and I mean CONSTANTLY; quote reviews from Rolling Stone and Billboard magazine concerning how great an album was and how the artist completely re-shaped the style of music they play. It didnt take long for me to get annoyed with the incessant barrage of "So-and-So is the best drummer in the world; or that "this guy" is a legendary whatever! And; the problem is that it happens throughout the book! The best thing I can recommend is to skip all of the parts that are written in the authors font and only read the quotes from each producer which are in a different font. Also; someone did a very poor job of proof reading the text. There are numerous instances of missing words in sentences that increase the frustration level of reading this book. I gave my copy to a friend and told him I didnt want it back. There is no reason for him to lose money buying this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not What You Think...By Austin KenIm a recording engineer and live sound engineer; and I always enjoy reading how the big boys do it. I had high hopes for this book; but it turned out to be nothing like I expected.The book has very few technical details on the recording of some of the greatest albums out there. Instead; it focuses more on the interaction between the producers and artists; and how the producers pulled the best performance they could out of the musicians.If thats what youre looking for...its a fine read. But if youre looking for more of the technical details...this is not your book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy sreigelGreat Read!!!