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The 42nd Parallel (U.S.A., #1)

by: John Dos Passos

Publisher: Mariner Books (1930)

$16.99

Staff Pick by comrade: rats

A cross section of American history told with characters of different classes and political trajectories. Starts in the late 1800s and ends immediately before WWI. A really interesting attempt to record the whole cultural zeitgeist of a turbulent 20-30 years. Includes newspaper clippings, biographies, stream of consciousness and other cool effects to build an impression of the time and the implications of this rapidly changing culture. A big chunk is about the IWW, which is a really neat way to learn about them!