Historical dictionary from the Great War to the Great Depression / Neil A. Wynn.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The period from 1913 to 1933 is not often seen as a coherent entity in the history of the United States. It is more often viewed in terms of two distinct periods with the pre-war era of political engagement, idealism, and reform known as "progressivism" separated by World War I from the materialism, conservatism and disengagement of the "prosperous" 1920s. To many postwar observers and later historians, the entry of the United States into the European conflict in 1917 marked not just a dramatic departure in foreign relations, but also the end of an era of reform.



This second edition of Historical Dictionary from the Great War to the Great Depression covers the history of this period through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 700 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about a vital period in U.S. history.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

In the introduction to the second edition of this historical dictionary (1st ed., CH, May'04, 41-5056), Wynn (Univ. of Gloucestershire, UK) argues in favor of unique cultural, political, and economic shifts from 1913 until 1933. This will come as no surprise to students of that period. The growing automobile culture, the Great Migration, and the growth of the American middle class's economic might altered the American and world trajectory. Wynn's well-written introduction offers readers a clear vision of the dictionary's scope. The entries that follow detail the American cultural, political, and social shifts that help readers understand the events of those two important decades. Unfortunately, the title does not fully make clear the extent to which this volume focuses on the US. It ignores many important European cultural achievements. William Faulkner and Sinclair Lewis are given their due, but D. H. Lawrence and James Joyce are ignored. In cinema, one find entries for D. W. Griffith and his American contemporaries, but Luis Bunuel and other European directors are omitted. The trend continues into traditional art with the omission of Salvador Dali and, shockingly, Pablo Picasso, who is mentioned only in passing. These omissions limit this book's usefulness to students interested in world events. However, those looking for information on the American experience from 1913 until 1933 will find it useful. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, lower-level undergraduates. J. R. Kelley Delta State University