Because we do not teach accurate US history in our K-12 system, many people believe that the “America” that existed between 1945-1975 has always been there. No wonder they are shocked as things revert back to baseline.
"... Gatsby is sometimes regarded as a glamorous tale of flappers and champagne-swigging socialites. It’s a tragedy, a horror story, ..."
By chance more than anything, I read The Great Gatsby for the first time only a couple of months ago. I do not intend to read it again. I disliked the book greatly because all of the characters and their attitudes were so deeply unpleasant. It was, and remains, a mystery to me why the book has such a popular reputation, and is read widely in US schools.
I followed reading The Great Gatsby with The Big Sur by Jack Kerouac which I experienced as quite refreshing in contrast.
Good photograph, by the way. I have visited Berlin and the Jewish holocaust memorial on four occasions. My experience of Berlin is that it is an emotional roller-coaster of history.
"Mega-wealthy, scientifically illiterate industrialist blowhards, obsessing over population growth, Great Replacement theory, immigration, who leverage their un-earned power to determine policy."
I love how Adam's jealousy just pours out at every opportunity. He doesn't name Musk here in case he has to wriggle out of his silly characterisation that he's scientifically illiterate. Adam loves to gatekeep & pretend he alone holds the Science keys... him and his chums.
How dishonest (or fundamentalist) do you have to be to deny immigration is a major problem, especially in the UK? Not just the econmically negative groups, not just the extra crime and pressure on services & housing or the fact that British doctors have to compete with foreigners.
But the terror attacks, the normalisation of islamic oppression of women (islamic dress is an increasing & rather alarming sight, the niqab and burka...) mosque building, rape gangs, bigamy, blasphemy laws...
This is the president of Humanists UK by the way... a president that will absolutely not criticise islam, even as it increasingly seeks to take power in the UK.
Conclusion? A fraud. A cowardly little fraud of a man who is so far Left he'll ally with absolute barbarians if it means he can still whine about normal people who want to preserve their country and culture.
There is a US historian blogger I read who constantly shares his frustration that people reach for Nazi analogies to describe Trump when he’s adamant that the real time and place to look to for the ideas that inspire the Trump movement is Gilded age America
Adam what’s your take on the Gatsby-was-passing reading? Also is there more to say about Perkins’ contribution in light of his work on the eugenic bollox
Thanks for this very insightful (and timely) piece, Adam. Will have to give Gatsby another read - pretty sure I read it in high school (ca 40 yrs ago), and probably thought then that it was about socialites and flappers . . .
Weirdly, this is the second substack article I've read today that references a place I have also visited today. Was at the Holocaust memorial this morning, and also saw the "Topographies of Terror" exhibit mentioned in Timothy Snyders latest post.
Excellent essay, Adam! 👏
Because we do not teach accurate US history in our K-12 system, many people believe that the “America” that existed between 1945-1975 has always been there. No wonder they are shocked as things revert back to baseline.
"... Gatsby is sometimes regarded as a glamorous tale of flappers and champagne-swigging socialites. It’s a tragedy, a horror story, ..."
By chance more than anything, I read The Great Gatsby for the first time only a couple of months ago. I do not intend to read it again. I disliked the book greatly because all of the characters and their attitudes were so deeply unpleasant. It was, and remains, a mystery to me why the book has such a popular reputation, and is read widely in US schools.
I followed reading The Great Gatsby with The Big Sur by Jack Kerouac which I experienced as quite refreshing in contrast.
Good photograph, by the way. I have visited Berlin and the Jewish holocaust memorial on four occasions. My experience of Berlin is that it is an emotional roller-coaster of history.
"Mega-wealthy, scientifically illiterate industrialist blowhards, obsessing over population growth, Great Replacement theory, immigration, who leverage their un-earned power to determine policy."
I love how Adam's jealousy just pours out at every opportunity. He doesn't name Musk here in case he has to wriggle out of his silly characterisation that he's scientifically illiterate. Adam loves to gatekeep & pretend he alone holds the Science keys... him and his chums.
How dishonest (or fundamentalist) do you have to be to deny immigration is a major problem, especially in the UK? Not just the econmically negative groups, not just the extra crime and pressure on services & housing or the fact that British doctors have to compete with foreigners.
But the terror attacks, the normalisation of islamic oppression of women (islamic dress is an increasing & rather alarming sight, the niqab and burka...) mosque building, rape gangs, bigamy, blasphemy laws...
This is the president of Humanists UK by the way... a president that will absolutely not criticise islam, even as it increasingly seeks to take power in the UK.
Conclusion? A fraud. A cowardly little fraud of a man who is so far Left he'll ally with absolute barbarians if it means he can still whine about normal people who want to preserve their country and culture.
Fantastic essay. Thank you for this new perspective on my favourite classic. Very thought provoking.
There is a US historian blogger I read who constantly shares his frustration that people reach for Nazi analogies to describe Trump when he’s adamant that the real time and place to look to for the ideas that inspire the Trump movement is Gilded age America
Adam what’s your take on the Gatsby-was-passing reading? Also is there more to say about Perkins’ contribution in light of his work on the eugenic bollox
Show me?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/03/great-gatsby-book-fitzgerald-race-interpretation/672778/
The thought that the novel could be perceived as a celebration of the roaring twenties would have elicited a delightful irony in FSF, no doubt.
Thanks for this very insightful (and timely) piece, Adam. Will have to give Gatsby another read - pretty sure I read it in high school (ca 40 yrs ago), and probably thought then that it was about socialites and flappers . . .
Weirdly, this is the second substack article I've read today that references a place I have also visited today. Was at the Holocaust memorial this morning, and also saw the "Topographies of Terror" exhibit mentioned in Timothy Snyders latest post.
Great article. Thank you.