The richest and most powerful single document of the american experience in world war ii the boston globe. Includes an excerpt of the astronomer harlow shapley speaking at the beginning. The good war an oral history of world war two studs. The truth about world war ii from the october 11, 2012 issue.
The familiar american portrayal of world war ii, and the good war mythology of the us role in it, is not merely bad history. Among the interviews youll hear this week are a telephone operator and hotel piano player. Dec 09, 2014 by 1984, when the american broadcaster and writer studs terkel published an oral history of the conflict called the good war, that very phrase had become so natural that terkel could employ it. Despite world war ii being an event that changed the psyche as well as the face of the united states and the world 3, terkel finds that memory of the war is rapidly fading. Studs terkels the good war theatrical rights worldwide. The great studs terkel, immortalized on canvas, in his. The good war by studs terkel, 1985, ballantine edition, in english 1st ballantine books ed. No matter how horrendous the remembrances are, fairly only a few in the interviewees declared if the excursion never happened that they would be better off. Terkel explains the title, matteroffactly, as the vietnam, nuclearwar contrast. At that time i had the extremely good fortune of having studs interview me on his radio program and in addition to the. Using the words of the people who were actually there, the good war creates a collage of the personal experiences, attitudes.
Buy the good war by studs terkel online at alibris. An oral history of world war two new york, 1984 geoffrey. Discussing the book shadows of forgotten ancestors. The good war in the good war terkel presents the good, the bad, and the ugly memories of world war ii from a perspective of forty years of after the events. Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath.
From a pipe fitters apprentice at pearl harbor to a crew member of the flight that. The work received the 1985 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. In recording this oral history, studs terkel interviewed over 100 individuals who shared their thoughts or experiences of the great depression. In her book the anarchy of empire, kaplan analyzes the american national. In the very good war terkel presents the compelling, the bad, and the ugly memories of world war ii via a view of forty years of after the events.
Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. The good war by studs terkel overdrive rakuten overdrive. Or, if you are too young to remember, this is the best place to get a sense of. The great studs terkel, immortalized on canvas, in his hometown. The good war is advertised as an oral history of world war ii as told by veterans and citizens on many fronts which, technically, it is. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. From the 1950s through 1997, studs terkel, author of working, the good war, coming of age and eight other books, hosted a daily show on wfmt in chicago. Studs terkels the good war was published by the new press in1984. Also quoted there by fussell is eric severeid, an influential american journalist and commentator, who wrote that the war absolutely was a contest between good and evil. The good war consists of a series of interviews with various men and women from across the globe who directly experienced. America is studs terkels look at twentieth century urban life in and around chicago. By 1984, when the american broadcaster and writer studs terkel published an oral history of the conflict called the good war, that very phrase had become so natural that terkel could employ it. The good war by studs terkel the 582nd greatest nonfiction. Except for a few books published shortly after the war and quickly.
However, terkel seems to have taken a definite anti war stance with this book. If you need to know the good war by studs terkel essays. I suppose that its important, before we begin hammering this book, to recall that it was written in the early 1970s. He received the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1985 for the good war, and is best remembered for his oral histories of common americans, and for hosting a longrunning radio show in chicago. As always, his subjects are open and unrelenting in their analyses of themselves and their experiences, producing what people magazine has called a splendid epic history of world war ii. The good war consists of a series of interviews with various men and women from across the globe who directly experienced the events leading up to, including. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. An oral history of world war two studs terkel download bok. Read the good war online by studs terkel books free 30day. Many americans still harbored inner sentiment of the japanese remembering pearl harbor and the fear of japanese spies. You look at haruki murakami, the japanese novelist, wrote a book called underground, which was a collection of kind of oral histories about the gas attacks in tokyo, and he gives a nod to studs at the very beginning of that book, kotlowitz said, adding that terkel created this genre.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. His other oral histories include hard times andworking. An oral history of world war two by studs terkel, is one of the most memorable, comprehensive records of personal stories of world war ii in literature. To him the past is still as fresh as the present which is why hes a great raconteur, says. These interviews provide unparalleled insights into the ideas and events that have shaped our lives. Jan 23, 2008 studs terkel celebrating after winning the 1985 pulitzer prize for his novel the good war. The myth of the good war geoffrey wheatcroft news the. The good war, for which studs terkel won the pulitzer prize, is a testament not.
Studs terkels book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working. It has helped greatly to support and justify a series of arrogant us foreign policy adventures, with harmful consequences for both america and the world. Studs terkel as i mentioned in an earlier post, one of the things id like to. Gary younge talks to us oral historian studs terkel. An oral history of world war ii by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Bell based on studs terkels pulitzer prizewinning book, the good war, conceived and created by david h. In 1984, studs terkel coined the moniker that would stick. An oral history of world war ii 1984 is an oral history of world war ii compiled by studs terkel. Studs terkel is an oral historian from chicago, who has written several other books such as coming of age and hard times using the same format he uses in the good war. He included interviews with immigrants from other lands, like george drossos from greece, and those who migrated to chicago looking for work such as eva barnes from rural illinois and mrs. In the good war terkel presents the good, the bad, and the ugly memories of world war ii from a perspective of forty years of after the events.
The good war, an oral history of world war ii, by studs turkel, is a compiliation of multiple accounts from servivors, on their personal experiences of the war. The above quotation was on the quote page of studs terkel s 1984 book the good war. The good assignment even, following wwii it was no easy task for japaneseamerican like yuriko hohri to find their spot back in society. The book is a collection of interviews done by terkel following world war two.
Anyone interested in any element of world war ii would be immediately captivated by terkel s work, which gives a fair and thorough discussion of all elements of the war through the words of americans, germans, brits, japanese, and many others. The good war is a testament not only to the experience of war but to the extraordinary skill of studs terkel as an interviewer and oral historian. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger to a studio head, this book provides a brilliant and enduring portrait of peoples feelings about their working lives. Captain america and the mythologization of world war two introduction in march, 1941, months before the united states would officially enter the second world war, adolf hitler took a massive hit from american forces. These are anecdotes from people ranging from sharecroppers on up to highly placed executives, politicians, and professionals. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. An oral history of world war ii, studs terkel published the. Bertrands race, rock, and elvis looks into the arguments of rocknrolls impact on changing postwar race relations in the united. Based on studs terkels pulitzer prizewinning book, the good war, conceived and created by david h. Hard times, and his pulitzer prizewinning the good war. Oct 31, 2008 louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster.
The 95yearold writer and oral historian studs terkel has witnessed almost a century of american life. However, terkel seems to have taken a definite antiwar stance with this book. The reading that i personally enjoyed the most was the. A search for who we are about the evolution and the future of the human species. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Gary younge talks to us oral historian studs terkel books. Read the good war by studs terkel for free with a 30 day free trial. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel.
Intro often the darkest times in history provide an aura of excitement not soon forgotten. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Analysis of studs terkel s the good war 789 words cram. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as the body. He received the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1985 for the good war and is best remembered for his oral histories of common americans, and for hosting a longrunning radio show in chicago.
An oral history of world war ii 1984 by studs terkel daniel. An oral history of world war two is a 1984 nonfiction account of world war ii based on interviews conducted by the american author studs terkel. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the good war by studs terkel. This digital edition was derived from acls humanities e book s online version of the same title. No matter how gruesome the memories are, relatively few of the interviewees said they. Jul 22, 2019 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
Mar 01, 2020 circa 65 linear feet papers, 800 sound recordings original book interviews, and 50 the good war by studs terkel essays sound cassettes original book interviews consisting of typed transcripts of interviews by studs terkel that he used in writing his books division street, hard times, and. Bell and craig carnelia, combines terkels stunning text with vintage songs of the war years, to create a unique and illuminating snapshot of the time. It is about ulcers as well as accidents, about shouting matches as well as fistfights, about nervous breakdowns as well as kicking the dog around. No matter how gruesome the memories are, relatively few of the interviewees said they would have been better off without the experience. Ma thesis, american studies program, utrecht university. The good war, for which studs terkel won the pulitzer prize, is a testament not only to the experience of war but to the extraordinary skill of terkel as interviewer. The book can be regarded as an excellent primary source of information from a historical point of view. While it is true, there is always a way to simplify the process of getting to the goal.
Fred jewellap a bout 25 years ago, studs terkel was waiting for a number 146 bus alongside. Louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Studs terkel, the noted chicagobased journalist, gathers the reminiscences of 121 participants in world war ii called the good war because, in the words of one soldier, to see fascism defeated, nothing better could have happened to a human being. It is a firsthand account of people involved before, during and after the war. The narratives that came out of world war two, about duty, sacrifice, and heroism, played into american rhetoric and national identity, and these kinds of narratives created the good war myth. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
An oral history of world war two by terkel, studs and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This book is a compilation of oral recountings of the great depression of the 20th century, taken by studs terkel. Classifications the good war theme of this book, voiced by the good war by studs terkel essays so many of his witnesses, is an this book sustains studs terkels reputation as the nations writing essays custom foremost practitioner of. Prendergast was captured during the battle of the bulge, rode on a prisoner train with kurt vonnegut, survived german pow labor camps and witnessed the firebombing of dresden before ultimately becoming freed. Red prendergast interview by thisisdrew from desktop or your mobile device.
Terkel may well have put together the most vivid collection of world war ii sketches ever gathered between covers. Sep 25, 2016 all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working. Not only does terkel interview servicemen, military wives. Includes carl sagan reading an excerpt from the book at the end. The work won the 1985 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. First published in 1970, this classic of oral history features the voices of men and women who lived through the great depression of the 1930s. From a pipe fitters apprentice at pearl harbor to a crew member of the flight that dropped the. Red prendergast, who describes his experiences as an army infantryman in world war ii. After i began reading the book my american century by studs terkel, i quickly became interested in reading further. Studs terkels the good war shocks its audience with the grotesque reality of world war ii battles as well as the exhilaration of being in the midst of some type of word for war. Studs terkel was a graduate of the university of chicago in 1932 and then from the chicago law school in 1934. In world war ii memories, terkel has found a great, untold storywith foreshadowings of vietnam and aftershocks of atomic warfare.