H. L. Mencken IntroductionH. L. Mencken, an American writer and cultural critic, put together a book of essays called Prejudices: First Series. The book is split into two parts. The first part talks about politics, literature, religion, and social problems. The second part crticizes politicians, writers, and public intellectuals who were important at the time. Mencken's sharp wit, biting snark, and cynicism about American society and culture are all shown in this book. He criticizes politicians for being self-centered and lying, religious fanatics for being closed-minded, and literary pretenses and trends of the time. Mencken's writings are very opinionated, and not all of his ideas are politically correct. This made the book controversial at the time it came out. But the book is considered a classic of American writing and a good way to learn about the social, cultural, and political problems of the early 20th century. Read More Read Less