radical>coltonIII. The Politician
About the author
conquerMenchen ---- Mencken, H (enry) L (ouis), 1880 – 1956, American author; b. Baltimore. He was a journalist, notably on Baltimore’s Sun papers (1906 – 56). He and George Jean NATNAN edited the Smart Set (1914 – 23) and started (1924) the American Mercury, which Mencken alone edited (1925 – 33). His ascorbic critical essays, aimed mainly at the complacent bourgeoisie, were collected in Prejudices (6 vol., 1919 – 27). He also wrote many other critical and autobiographical works. In philology, he compiled the monumental The American Language (1919; 4th ed., 1936; supplements).
Mencken was a central figure in American intellectual life during the 1920’s. He launched the most cutting attacks of any writer against America’s middle class culture. He invented the word ‘booboisie’, combining the two words ‘bourgeoisie’ and ‘ booby’ (an awkward, foolish person). In caustic (hurtful; intentionally unkind) witty essays, he derided the institutions which supported the middle class. He enjoyed controversy and tried to arou
his antagonists with his direct, devastating attacks. He hated narrow-minded religion and commercialism, and he did not support democracy becau he considered the mass too ignorant and greedy to exerci it wily, declaring that Americans were ‘the most timorous, sniveling, poltroonish [ i.e. cowardly ], ignominious mob of rfs and goo-steppers ever gathered under one flag …”. He jeered at the churches, business and the government.
Mencken’s essays were received with delight or horror, depending on the reader’s point of view, he was also highly respected for his literary criticism and he exerted a powerful influence on American literature.
Mencken was also a leading scholar in the field of language. His monumental book The American Language is considered an outstanding work of philosophy. In it, he examined the development of the English language in America, contrasting English and American expressions and usages, explaining the origins of many American idioms, and tracing the influence of immigrant languages on American English. He made a large contribution to t
he study of language and particularly encouraged scholarly study of the American branch of English.
有限公司 英文Mencken wrote with ver, gusto and exaggeration. His exuberant, extravagant u of the language was so amusing and startling that even his most violently critical essays became acceptable to his readers. He employed a huge vocabulary and liked to inrt unusual or unexpected words, for surpri or comic effect, into otherwi normal ntences. Although his style is occasionally difficult to read, Mencken is still considered one of the best and liveliest essayists of this century.
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About the text
damn ---- blame or strongly criticize
No matter what decision you make, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t (= criticized whatever you decide).
The inquiry into the disaster damns the company for its lack of safety precautions.
zraup hill and down dale ---- 〖dated〗everywhere
blooms Where have you been? We’ve been arching up hill and down dale for you.
rogue ---- 〖dated〗a dishonest or immoral person
He was known as being a bit of a rogue who had left his wife and run off with his cretary.
(A rogue is also a person who jokes and behaves in a way which you do not approve of but whom you do not want to criticize becau you like them too much: ‘What an old rogue you are,’ she said, blushing. A rogues’ gallery is a collection of photographs of criminals kept by the police: (fig.) He occupies a prominent position in the rogues’ gallery of the financial world.)
如何开发儿童智力vagabond ---- 〖old u or literary〗 a person who has no home and usually no job, and who travels from place to place, esp. in the past, one who was thought to be of low worth
A ries of laws in 16fengjieth century England specified how idle vagabonds were to be dealt with.
fraud ---- a person who is not that they are claimed
He told people that he was a rious and well-known musician, but he was a fraud really.
scoundrel ---- 〖dated or humorous〗a person, esp. a man, who treats other people very badly and has no moral principles
He’s an absolute scoundrel – he took out antique va to get it valued and we haven’t en him since.
‘Every man over forty is a scoundrel.’
– George Bernard Shaw in Maxims for Revolutionists, 1903
I often expect too much of them. ---- I often require them to so too much (becau I beli
eve it’s their duty to do this or that).i miss you什么意思
look to ---- expect (somebody) to do (something); hope (that someone will do something)
We should look to the economists for advice on how to overcome inflation.
He always looks to others to structure everything for him.
… that is too large an order ---- … that’s a too big request.
enchant ---- have a magic effect on (someone or something); fill (someone) with a feeling of great delight
To me, Central Park has an atmosphere of mystery, as if it were enchanted with fairies.
Her charisma managed to enchant the audience.
the intellectually underprivileged ---- tho who lack intelligence and their own mind, and are conquently easy to be enchanted (the common American People)
crooner ---- a singer, esp. a man, who sings slow love songs
take on ---- (something) develop/assume a new appearance or quality
