Books about 1950s america

America in the 1950s the decades of twentiethcentury america twentieth century america. Book censorship is the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materialof images, ideas, and informationon the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in the light of standards applied by the censor. The insane history of how american paranoia ruined and. The 1950s american home shire library usa 9780747812388. The books of the century, 19401949 open computing facility. Ayn rands objectivist novel takes place in a dystopian version of 1950s new york. The united states is the worlds third largest country in population and in area. Read the fulltext online edition of american culture in the 1950s 2007. John updike has some wonderful books set and written. Home browse books book details, american culture in the 1950s american culture in the 1950s. In 1758, for his twentyfifth almanac, franklin created a clever preface that repeated a.

Though the 1950s are often cheerfully remembered as the era of baby boomers, it was also a period of change and upheaval in america. List of books and articles about 1950s america online research. The decades best books were mired in the dark realities of recent history, and. Start reading the 1950s american home shire library usa on your kindle in under a minute. Also on the list, i have books from both american and european authors, so. The best classic childrens books from the 1950s, part of a series of the best childrens books from the 20th century. An iron lung on display at the sioux empire medical museum was used during the polio epidemic of the late 40s and early 50s. Young is a freelance writer and independent scholar. America in the 1950s the decades of twentiethcentury america 9780822576426. All in one page this website was compiled by daniel immerwahr. Some of the 1950s childrens chapter books on this list were favorite read alouds in our house and ive included a variety of genres, from fantasy to humor and realistic fiction. Holden is the first great american antihero, and his attitudes influenced the beat generation of the 1950s as well as the hippies of the 1960s.

Censorship is the regulation of speech and other forms of expression by an entrenched authority. These 1950s childrens books were popular read alouds with both my boys. Some 60 years ago, during the era of mccarthyism, comic books became a threat, causing a panic that culminated in a senate hearing in 1954. The 1950s were a decade marked by the postworld war ii boom, the dawn of the cold war and the civil rights movement in the united states. While its especially popular amongst those with more libertarian politics who oppose government regulation, its also a popular read for those who love the sciencefiction, romance, and mystery. The cold war and its associated conflicts helped create a politically conservative climate in the country, as the quasiconfrontation intensified throughout the entire decade. Apr 28, 2014 these 1950s childrens books were popular read alouds with both my boys. Authors of the day were eager to highlight social injustice and other problems, as can be seen in this list of iconic american books published in. This list is just a sample of the thousands of books that we can access through the countywide system.

The books of the century, 19501959 open computing facility. These classic 1950s books will lead us into the second half of the twentieth century. Edmund lindop has written many books for young adults, including several books in the decades of twentiethcentury america series. The book follows philip bowman, a world war ii navy veteran who has returned to new york to success in the publishing industry. David hajdu examines the great comicbook panic of the 1950s. The united states in the 1950s experienced marked economic growth with an increase in manufacturing and home construction amongst a postworld war ii economic expansion. You may remember my list of 1950s chapter books from my 20th century classics by the decade series. Lewis, the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe 1950, hermann hesse, siddhartha first english translation, 1951, hannah arendt, the origins of totalitarianism 1951, vladimir nabokov, speak, memory 1951, josephine tey, the daughter of time 1951, isaac asimov, the foundation trilogy 19511953, ernest hemingway, the old man and the sea 1952, anne frank. Here is a list of 10 books some fact, some fiction which put flesh on the bones of that narrative. From one of the most affable writers around, a memoir of growing up in des moines in the 1950s, aided by one very specific persona i bet you can guess. Sarah decapua was born in connecticut and graduated from springfield college bs and sacred heart university mat.

The cold war and its associated conflicts helped create a politically conservative climate in the country, as the quasiconfrontation intensified throughout the entire. During the 1950s, the united states was the worlds strongest military power. The rose tattoo by tennessee williams, the crucible by arthur miller, picnic by william inge, the teahouse of the august moon adapted from the novel by vern sneider by john patrick, the desperate hours by joseph hayes, the diary of anne frank adapted from the book by frances goodrich and albert hackett, bus stop by william inge, cat on a hot tin roof by tennessee williams, the chalk garden by enid bagnold, long days journey. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Discover librarianselected research resources on 1950s america from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines.

At a variety magazine conference at the cannes film festival in may 2004, film producer lawrence bender responded dramatically to a question about media censorship in the united states. Top 10 books on 1960s america bigots, lsd, vietnam and motown all part of the reading list that inspired stuart cosgroves penderyn music book prizenominated account of. The 1950s american popular culture through history 97803361609. From poetry, novels, and memoirs to journalism, crime writing, and science fiction, the more than 300 volumes published by library of america are widely recognized as americas literary canon. The book provides an intellectual context for approaching 1950s american culture and considers the historical impact of the decade on recent social and. Discover librarianselected research resources on 1950 s america from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Here youll find a list of books that are either set in the 1950s or were written during this time. This list is broken down by age but there are many books that can be enjoyed by some or all of the age groups. America in the 1950s the decades of twentiethcentury. The 1950s saw the emergence of literary lights including j.

This book provides a stimulating account of the dominant cultural forms of 1950s america. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Fear of communism and the dawn of the battle for civil rights pervaded every aspect of american life, often resulting in the harsh treatment of those things that were believed to bring about change. Published in 2014, but set largely in 1950s new york, all that is served as underappreciated writer james salters epitaph. This library of america volume, with its companion devoted to the 1930s and 40s, presents a rich vein of modern american writing, works now being recognized for the powerful literary qualities and their unique, sometimes subversive role in shaping modern american language and culture. The 1950s in america is often painted as a golden age, filled with postworld war ii optimism, a booming peacetime economy, and the.

Sep 01, 2009 edmund lindop has written many books for young adults, including several books in the decades of twentiethcentury america series. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Though the books on these lists need not be american in origin, i am looking for. Aug 23, 2017 in case you feel the same, and in case youre going somewhere new this season or any time in the future, really, im recommending two booksone fiction and one nonfictionset in or at least concerning every state in america for your exploratory reading pleasure. The novel, while panned by critics, has become a cult classic. Fiction and nonfiction for every state in the union. United states, officially united states of america, republic 2015 est. Benjamin franklin, poor richard improved 1732 and the way to wealth 1785 as a writer, benjamin franklin was best known for the wit and wisdom he shared with the readers of his popular almanac, poor richard, under the pseudonym richard saunders. He has recently retired from teaching english, american studies, and popular culture at lynchburg college in virginia for 36 years. Learning objective f in the 1950s, financial prosperity allowed young americans to participate in a shared culture of rock and roll music, movies, and television. Mar 04, 2015 top 10 books about women in the 1950s. Ralph ellison, invisible man 1952 ralph ellisons invisible man is told by an unnamed narrator who.

The characters can be from any walk of life, i just want something thatll transport me there since theres something that fascinates me about that time period. Revered by such contemporary masters as sue grafton, george pelecanos, and james ellroy, praised by eudora welty as a more serious and complex writer than chandler and hammett ever were, ross macdonald the pseudonym of kenneth millar brought to the crime novel a new realism and psychological depth and a unique gift. It is thought to be the only iron lung remaining in south dakota. Im working through picture books now, but as i explained in my list of 1960s picture books, i am not going in chronological order.

Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and. Through detailed commentary and focused case studies of influential texts and events from invisible man to west side story, from disneyland to the seattle worlds fair, from rear window to the. Popular culture and mass media in the 1950s article. Isaac asimov, i, robot 1950, ray bradbury, the martian chronicles 1950, patricia highsmith, strangers on a train 1950, c. Mar, 2015 the insane history of how american paranoia ruined and censored comic books. American culture in the 1950s by martin halliwell, 2007. Book lists feature 10 books from every decade of the last century. White, charlottes web 1952 according to publishers. In addition to conducting a dignified campaign, women also needed to work on themselves, as a fourpart series in 1954 in ladies home journal suggested. Change the citation numbers to focus on more popular titles. Looking for books about american life in the 1940s1950s showing. Its economy was booming, and the fruits of this prosperitynew cars, suburban houses and other consumer goods.

Censorship had increased suddenly in february 2004 after the inopportune exposure of singer janet jacksons breast at the live televised superbowl from houston, texas, and benders response was biting. In particular books that some perceive to promote anarchism, communism or socialism have a history of being suppressed in the united states. The communist manifesto by karl marx and friedrich engels was frequently challenged and widely restricted in libraries because of its communism themes, especially during the red scare in the 1950s. As the title suggests, im looking for books about american life in the 40s50s overlap into the 30s and 60s is. Mar 30, 2016 top 10 books on 1960s america bigots, lsd, vietnam and motown all part of the reading list that inspired stuart cosgroves penderyn music book prizenominated account of 1960s detroit. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.

The two core aims of this volume are to chart the changing complexion of american culture in the years following world war ii and to provide readers with a critical investigation of the 1950s. List of books and articles about 1950s america online. The most popular form of censorship through the ages, the censorship of literature in the 1950s saw an effort to ban not only classics, but also newly emerging comic books and college curricula. Salinger and jack kerouac, authors whose books questioned the status quo and the midcentury preoccupation with conformity. On april 27, 1953, the judiciary committee of the united states senate created a special subcommittee on juvenile delinquency to investigate the causes of juvenile delinquency and to propose measures in response. During the 1950s, some important and awardwinning dramas included. The 1950s american popular culture through history. Im just looking for books that depict life in america during the above decades. Popular culture and mass media in the 1950s article khan. Bestselling books, book of the month club selections, and notable books. During the 1950s horror comic books were scrutinized as a corrupting force on the minds of young people, an issue overseen by the senate subcommittee. Top 10 books about women in the 1950s books the guardian. Young has published books and articles on various subjects of popular culture.

The senate judiciary committees subcommittee on juvenile delinquency investigates comic books in the 1950s summary. Salinger, the catcher in the rye 1951 since his debut in 1951 as the narrator. So it seems nobody ever thought about explaining captain americas brief run in the 1950s to readers until steve engelhart did so 20 years later, when comics started appealing to older audiences. The decades best books were mired in the dark realities of recent history, and looked forward to seismic social sh.