About John Dos Passos
John Roderigo Dos Passos (1896-1970), American author, born in Chicago, and educated at Harvard University. His first novel, One Mans Initiation 1920, was followed by Three Soldiers 1921, which brought John Dos Passos both critical and popular recognition. In Manhattan Transfer (1925) John Dos Passos introduced several experimental innovations in the novel form; he interrupted the narrative at irregular intervals with selected news popular song lyrics, and short biographical sketches of notable figures of the day. These techniques were perfected, and their use expanded, in his subsequent novels. The central theme of his writings is the inevitable corruption of individual character by the excessive commercialism of contemporary civilization. |
