A Boatload of Madmen: Surrealism and the American Avant-Garde 1920-1950

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Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the book explores the transformative impact of Surrealism on the American art scene in the 1930s. It highlights how the movement, initially rooted in radical leftist ideals and literary expression, evolved into a more apolitical visual style as it gained popularity. Through the lens of key figures like Man Ray and Salvador Dali, the narrative examines the interplay between American avant-garde artists and European Surrealists, detailing how American culture reshaped and commercialized these revolutionary ideas.