Jim Bovard on HL Mencken

HL Mencken is the writer you need to read immediately. He was savagely brilliant, caustic, and witty, but also prolific across genres in ways almost unthinkable of journalists today. His skill with the English language was virtually unmatched in the 20th century, as was his deep and abiding contempt for utopian statism in any form. And his broadsides against two world wars were incredibly courageous at the time.
Our great friend Jim Bovard joins the show to discuss Mencken's work, his complicated elitism, his Old Right politics and social views, and the magnificent pleasure of reading this master.
"H.L. Mencken, The Joyous Libertarian" by Murray N. Rothbard: Mises.org/Joyous
Mencken Wikiquote: Mises.org/HLQ

[@rosezingleman5007]

Great discussion, hun. Mencken is such a fascinating character and undeniably entertaining writer.
I too lived in “Balmer” and can imagine that in his time (when it still functioned as a city) his voice must’ve been booming. Agree that Mencken’s brilliance came from his own effort rather than a veneer of Ivy League gloss.
Love to hear someone who recalls Russell Baker, Buckley et al as well.
The loss of literary life in the US will be the end of us.

[@jonahbacon2415]

Keep it up y'all

[@freedom_aint_free]

What a change, nowadays Baltimore and nothing but a cesspool ...

[@MattsYoutubeChannel]

What do you reckon is the #1 factor that contributed to that decline?

[@DavidM-tg1oy]

@@MattsRUclipsChannel Politicians, especially Democrat politicians. Every city misgoverned by these thieves and morons becomes a Baltimore within a generation or so, and only gets worse from there...

[@georgeprokopenko3044]

great

[@SSArcher11]

Libertarian would be the correct description.

[@rosezingleman5007]

Baltimore before the D’Alesandro family got their hooks into it.

[@MattsYoutubeChannel]

Who wrote this description? His skill with English was virtually unmatched in the 20th century? Mencken himself named people he thought were better at prose than himself in his own writings. This is a little embarrassing to read. As well it ought to be pointed out that he stopped criticising the war efforts when he began to suspect he'd be hauled up for it. He was courageous until the point at which he would've lost his job for it, so you can call that courage if you want to. I love Mencken's writing but let's not make a demi-god out of any man, even within their respective niche.