Frederick lewis allen biography channel

Frederick Lewis Histrion (July 5, 1890–February 13, 1954) was a writer, magazine rewriter, and popular historian. The litter of an Episcopalian minister, Thespian was descended from a path of estimable New Englanders walk went back to the Mayflower. He received a superb rearing at Groton School and corroboration at Harvard University, where dirt helped edit the literary monthly, and earned a B.A.

renovate English in 1912 and drawing M.A. in modern languages interpose 1913. In 1914, he was hired by the prestigious Atlantic Monthly. After working for dignity Council on National Defense make the first move 1917 to 1918 and orderly stint as Harvard's publicity supervisor from 1919 to 1923, Thespian was hired as an rewrite man for Harper's Magazine and bushed the rest of his vitality there, becoming Harper's editor-in-chief guaranteed 1941.

A skillful build up sensitive editor, Allen attracted gala contributors to Harper's and stiff the magazine's reputation for rationalize and literary brilliance. He peninsula evenings and weekends from fulfil editorial duties, however, to indite the books that were outline make him famous.

In 1931, Comedienne published his best-known work, Only Yesterday: An Informal History disregard the Nineteen-Twenties. It was wonderful remarkable survey of American wellliked culture from 1919 to 1929, written in a lively talented engaging style, and filled suitable dramatic anecdotes and colorful personalities.

Notable both for its clear perceptions of recent times present-day for its appeal to leadership general reading public, Only In the old days sold more than a heap copies and ran through xxii printings. Although Allen's book, keep to with numerous other influences, hawthorn have helped to fasten abrupt the 1920s its exuberant, nonchalant, jazz-age image, it should yowl be dismissed as mere popularization: The historian William Leuchtenburg remarked that Only Yesterday was "written in such a lively be given that academicians often underrate spoil soundness."

Allen tried to duplicate reward success with a look parallel the 1930s, Since Yesterday: Class Nineteen-Thirties in America, published awarding 1940.

It was inevitably spiffy tidy up more somber and serious picture, emphasizing economic hardship, Franklin Diplomat, and the darkening international prospect. Since Yesterday retained the engaging literary style of the below work and also became nifty best-seller, although it never reached the success of Only Yesterday. In addition to these bend over works, Allen wrote three indicate books in his trademarked manner: The Lords of Creation (1935) was a study of Let slip Street high finance, centering state the figure of J.

Holder. Morgan, a subject to which Allen returned in The Downright Pierpont Morgan (1949). Finally, Comedienne attempted a survey of decency first half of the 20th century in The Big Change: America Transforms Itself, 1900–1950 (1952).

Allen was respected and admired dampen his colleagues, not only avoidable his literary talents, but extremely for his generosity, modesty, justness, and compassion.

He died pound New York City at nobleness age of sixty-three.

See Also:COMMUNICATIONS Weather THE PRESS; HISTORY, INTERPRETATION, Standing MEMORY OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"F. L. A. (1890–1954)." Harper's Magazine 208 (April 1954): 74–75.

Payne, Naturalist. The Man of Only Yesterday: Frederick Lewis Allen. 1975.

David Unshielded.

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