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Before I Forget
Burton Rascoe's autobiography on growing up in post-Civil War America.
"The excuse for anyone's writing an autobiography is in Dr Samuel Johnson's pronouncement that every man has at least one great book in him if he should tell the truth about himself. The man's station in life matters not at all, according to the good Doctor. He may be humble, undistinguished, lacking in glamor or conspicuous ability; he may have never strayed beyond the confines of his own village, fought no battles, witnessed no great events. But if he should know the truth about himself and have the courage and the words to tell it, then will he produce a masterpiece which all will acclaim, for he will have told a universal truth about the life of man, and he will have awakened the emotion of recognition in the breast of every man; for the truth about any man is in a large measure the truth about every man." (ix)
"The excuse for anyone's writing an autobiography is in Dr Samuel Johnson's pronouncement that every man has at least one great book in him if he should tell the truth about himself. The man's station in life matters not at all, according to the good Doctor. He may be humble, undistinguished, lacking in glamor or conspicuous ability; he may have never strayed beyond the confines of his own village, fought no battles, witnessed no great events. But if he should know the truth about himself and have the courage and the words to tell it, then will he produce a masterpiece which all will acclaim, for he will have told a universal truth about the life of man, and he will have awakened the emotion of recognition in the breast of every man; for the truth about any man is in a large measure the truth about every man." (ix)
442 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1937
36 people want to read
About the author
Burton Rascoe
57 books4 followersAmerican journalist, editor, and literary critic. Born in Kentucky, grew up in Oklahoma. Worked for Chicago Tribune and New York Herald Tribune.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 12, 2012
The first half of this book is about the author’s old-fashioned childhood in Kentucky and Oklahoma, his education, the mentors and girl friends who influenced him. His “gluttonous” reading. His idols: Emerson, Aristophanes, Alcibiades, Shelley, Whitman, Leonardo, Goethe. The second half is about his life, work, and adventures in Chicago, after arriving there with $1.85 in his pockets. The last five chapters are about the newspaper business in Chicago.
As literary editor of the Chicago Tribune, Burton Rascoe knew or corresponded with many writers of note: H. L. Mencken, Ring Lardner, John Reed, Carl Sandberg, Edgar Lee Masters, Sherwood Anderson, Will Cuppy, Isabel Paterson. So this book might interest fans of early twentieth century American literature. Rascoe maintains that there was a “cultural renaissance” going on in Chicago when he was there.
This is not a quick and easy read; the elegance of the writing sometimes gets in the way of the flow and clarity. The author assumes some sophistication in his readers. But he is very quotable at times. By all means read this book if you are interested in Burton Rascoe, in the period, in Chicago, the Tribune, the University of Chicago, Chicago politics circa 1910-1920. His digressions will not bother you if you are interested in Chicago. But this is not a book for everyone. I was disappointed that it ends in 1920, before he went to New York. No index, but extensive appendices of his newspaper articles.
As literary editor of the Chicago Tribune, Burton Rascoe knew or corresponded with many writers of note: H. L. Mencken, Ring Lardner, John Reed, Carl Sandberg, Edgar Lee Masters, Sherwood Anderson, Will Cuppy, Isabel Paterson. So this book might interest fans of early twentieth century American literature. Rascoe maintains that there was a “cultural renaissance” going on in Chicago when he was there.
This is not a quick and easy read; the elegance of the writing sometimes gets in the way of the flow and clarity. The author assumes some sophistication in his readers. But he is very quotable at times. By all means read this book if you are interested in Burton Rascoe, in the period, in Chicago, the Tribune, the University of Chicago, Chicago politics circa 1910-1920. His digressions will not bother you if you are interested in Chicago. But this is not a book for everyone. I was disappointed that it ends in 1920, before he went to New York. No index, but extensive appendices of his newspaper articles.
Displaying 1 of 1 review