American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

"The Rats in the Wall" is a story by H. P. Lovecraft about a trans-Atlantic family and its history (kind of like "The Lurking Fear" in a way). It also follows the method of archeology going deep into British history.

One of my favorite Lovecraft stories, "The Lurking Fear" explores heredity, immigration, American history, and race all in the form of an interesting mystery tale.

Part two of my review of THE NEW INDUSTRIAL STATE by John Kenneth Galbraith. Here he digs deep into the workings of the "technostructure" and makes an interesting contrast with planning in the socialist states of the time.

Another interesting story by H. P. Lovecraft, "The Hound" is about art and its impact on searchers who become grave-robbers to satisfy their curiosity.

The U.S. economy is planned. But don't take my word for it. John Kenneth Galbraith laid it all out in THE NEW INDUSTRIAL STATE. Here are my thoughts on the first 100 pages of that book.

The "Unnamable" is a great little horror story that includes a philosophical discussion about the nature of terror. A bit on the known unknowns of common knowledge and the limits of official narratives.

Part two of my review of THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY by John Kenneth Galbraith. This part of the book explores the consequences of affluence and present Galbraith's policy recommendations about how to restore a public sphere.

In this episode, I look at a story fragment ("Azathoth") and very short complete story ("What the Moon Brings"). Both are experiments in cosmic horror and the stories share similar themes.

Part one of my review of THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY by John Kenneth Galbraith. This book remains relevant in our conversations about post-scarcity and the lack of balance between public and private spending.

Part 2 of my review of Herbert West: Reanimator, covering parts 4-6.

Re-uploaded. Part one of my review and analysis of HERBERT WEST: REANIMATOR by H. P. Lovecraft. One of my favorite Lovecraft stories. Watch as I become convinced of a theory about the narrator over the course of my reading.

A short tale by H. P. Lovecraft, "Hypnos" involved an unreliable narrator exploring his dreams with an unknown associate. A nice contrast to some of the more optimistic dreamer stories.

So the second half of Galbraith's book called THE GREAT CRASH is about the impact of the 1929 crash on American life. Overall a good survey of the causes of the crash itself, it not the best on the structural causes of the Depression.

A great short story by H. P. Lovecraft, "The Music of Erich Zann" is one of his first to take seriously the power of art and the tendency of art in the 20th century to move toward the bizarre. Is it a commentary on musical modernism? Or just a good horror tale?

The economist John Kenneth Galbraith wrote this very interesting book about a famous airplane disaster. Here are my thoughts on the first half of this book.

A short story by H. P. Lovecraft, "The Other Gods" explores humanity's hubris at thinking they can understand the universe. These Other Gods will be explored in more depth in THE DREAMQUEST OF UNKNOWN KADATH.

Part two of my review of AMERICAN CAPITALISM by John Kenneth Galbraith. In the second half of this slim book we get into specific examples of counterveiling power through labor unions, cooperatives, government, and other forces.

"The Outsider" is a well-known tale by H. P. Lovecraft, probably due to its psychological dimension. One of his best works of short fiction, to be sure, even if not one of my favorites.

This episode begins a new series looking at the works of John Kenneth Galbraith. We begin with AMERICAN CAPITALISM, a book exploring the concept of "countervailing power" and how the size of firms undermines classical economics.

"The Moon-Bog" by Lovecraft may reminds us of "The Rats in the Wall' with its European setting and castle restoration subplot, but the story has its unique ideas, especially with the relationship between the workers and the castle owner, a relationship to water, and cultists of a sort.

"The Quest of Iranon" is a dreamlands story with (possibly) a dreamer from within the dreamlands themselves. It also works as a nice allegory for modernity, art, and celebrity.

No Lovecraft this Wednesday. Instead I will put an end to this Parkman series with the finale of MONTCALM AND WOLFE. Lots to perhaps say in summation about New France, the French and Indian Wars, and my insanity for doing this project. But, let's not. Next up, John Kenneth Galbraith's still relevant writings.

Part 5 of my review of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman. In this episode we explore the invasion of Canada and the emergence of Wolfe as a commander.

In "The Nameless City" we see Lovecraft sending an explorer into an ancient, pre-human city. While these themes would be explore in more depth in AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, this story remains a classic and not only because it introduces the "Mad Arab" Abdul Alhazred.

In this fourth part of my review of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman, we look at some major battled of the French and Indian War included the siege of Louisbourg (again), the rise of General Wolfe, and the setting for the invasion of Canada.