America, having a relatively short history as a nation, would not be expected to have a rich literary history, certainly not as prolific as countries such as England or France. However, despite the country’s youth, countless literary figures have originated on that side of the Atlantic. We could mention literary movements such as The Harlem Renaissance or The Beat Generation but, the most illustrious of these movements and, in my opinion, the most worthy of mentioning, from their eccentric hedonism to their undeniable talent, would be The Lost Generation.
This group of writers were so called because, having all come of age during the First World War, and having witnessed such destruction and human degradation in those years, they were left shocked and disillusioned. That is, the mood of lost values, despair and disbelief of the postwar years meant they themselves were ‘lost’.
This loss of hope is reflected in the many works these young authors wrote, the main themes being: decadence, driven to aimless hedonistic lifestyle (Jay Gatsby’s parties, for example), economic independence related to masculinity, and the over-idealisation of the past, through a loss of perspective with reality.
Notable writers:
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
Gertrude Stein (1874-1946)
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)
T.S. Eliot (1988-1965)
- Learning Technologies Group, University of Oxford, «Writers Inspire», retrieved 29th of October, 2014 http://writersinspire.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/the-lost-generation/
- «A2 English literature blog», found 2nd of November, 2014 http://paulfound.wordpress.com/the-great-gatsby/historical-background/the-jazz-age-and-the-lost-generation/
- «The Lost Generation», retrieved 5th of November, 2014 http://cichlostgeneration.blogspot.com.es/
- Rob Velella, «American literary blog», retrieved 27th of October, 2014 http://americanliteraryblog.blogspot.com.es/
patrickpowerakarregi1 