H L Mencken

H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) was a prominent American journalist, essayist, and cultural critic. He is best known for his satirical reportage on the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, published in "The Baltimore Sun," and his influential book "The American Language" (1919), which documented and celebrated American English. During the 1920s, Mencken co-edited the literary magazine "The Smart Set" and co-founded "The American Mercury," a periodical that became a platform for some of the era's most incisive social criticism. Mencken's acerbic wit and keen observations made him a formidable figure in early 20th-century American letters. He remained a significant voice in American journalism until a stroke in 1948 left him unable to write.