In 1947, a young William Manchester--the man who would later become a celebrated biographer, historian, and novelist--was working as a reporter for The Baltimore Sun. It was there that he met fellow journalist H.L. Mencken, the influential writer and cofounder of the magazines The American Mercury and The Smart Set. While attending the University of Missouri, Manchester tackled Mencken as the subject of his Masters thesis. When the resulting biography was published on the wider market in 1951, it made a splash--establishing Manchester's reputation as a skilled writer, biographer, and political commentator.
This book tells the story of "conservative anarchist" H.L. Mencken's life in compelling detail--a story that's energetic, controversial, and surprisingly intimate. Crafted in vivid prose, William Manchester brings Mencken's world to life.
William Manchester was the most popular and highly regarded historian and biographer of his time--and this powerful book supports that reputation.
"Manchester's book is written with verve, intellectual sophistication, and a prickly wit worthy of its eminent subject.... [The Life and Riotous Times of H.L. Mencken] performs a considerable service for American intellectual history. It is, besides, a first-class piece of literate entertainment." --The New Yorker
Written by one of President John F. Kennedy’s greatest admirers and closest confidants, this intimately detailed account provides a rarely seen glimpse into the emotions behind the Kennedy administration—from the elation of victory to the frustrating challenges facing a young president at this pivotal turning point in U.S. history.
Originally published in 1962—before the assassination of JFK—Portrait of a President is William Manchester’s first biography of the 35th President of the United States.
In addition to personal encounters with JFK, the biography draws from over forty interviews conducted in the first year of his presidency. In speaking with those closest to the president, both in his administration and his family, Manchester captures a complete portrait of one of the most highly regarded figures of the twentieth century.
This updated edition includes a new introduction and epilogue written by Manchester in the aftermath of November 1963, adding to the mythos by documenting not just how President Kennedy lived, but also the legacy he left behind.
In the title essay Controversy, Manchester details his experience writing The Death of a President, the award-winning account of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It was indeed a controversy like few others, engaging one of the most prominent historians of the day against Jackie Kennedy, the most famous, yet private, widow in the world. This 76-page essay provides a compelling insider's account of the most high-profile publishing struggle of its day.
"A work of love, even passion.... Mr. Manchester's final telling of the death of Kennedy is most moving; it is also less controversial than one had been led to believe by those who read the original manuscript." --Gore Vidal
This sweeping collection further provides a penetrating look at the period between World War II and the Vietnam era. In an account that's both exacting in its accuracy and a pleasure to read, these essays cover the events that shaped world history during this period of time--from the Bay of Pigs fiasco to Watergate and Vietnam.
