Damn! A Book of Calumny

Mencken was a prominent figure in American journalism and cultural criticism, known for his sharp wit and satirical insights. He gained fame for his coverage of the Scopes Trial, coining it the "Monkey Trial," and authored the significant multi-volume study, The American Language, exploring American English. Influenced by Nietzsche, he fiercely opposed organized religion, populism, and representative democracy, which he believed allowed lesser individuals to govern the capable. His work reflects a deep engagement with social and political themes of his time.