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 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. 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. Introduction summary the introduction explains terkels thesis and his purpose in compiling the interviews for the book. I suppose that its important, before we begin hammering this book, to recall that it was written in the early 1970s. 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. Gary younge talks to us oral historian studs terkel books. 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. The good war by studs terkel the 582nd greatest nonfiction.
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. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the good war by studs terkel. At that time i had the extremely good fortune of having studs interview me on his radio program and in addition to the. 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. However, terkel seems to have taken a definite anti war stance with this book. It is a firsthand account of people involved before, during and after the war. 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.
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. To him the past is still as fresh as the present which is why hes a great raconteur, says. 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. 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.
These are anecdotes from people ranging from sharecroppers on up to highly placed executives, politicians, and professionals. Many americans still harbored inner sentiment of the japanese remembering pearl harbor and the fear of japanese spies. Read the good war by studs terkel for free with a 30 day free trial. 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. The good war by studs terkel, 1985, ballantine edition, in english 1st ballantine books ed. Bell based on studs terkels pulitzer prizewinning book, the good war, conceived and created by david h. An oral history of world war two by terkel, studs and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. If you need to know the good war by studs terkel essays.
These interviews provide unparalleled insights into the ideas and events that have shaped our lives. 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. 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. The above quotation was on the quote page of studs terkel s 1984 book the good war. Not only does terkel interview servicemen, military wives. Jan 23, 2008 studs terkel celebrating after winning the 1985 pulitzer prize for his novel the good war. Terkel may well have put together the most vivid collection of world war ii sketches ever gathered between covers. Includes carl sagan reading an excerpt from the book at the end. Discussing the book shadows of forgotten ancestors. 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. Includes an excerpt of the astronomer harlow shapley speaking at the beginning.
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. Fred jewellap a bout 25 years ago, studs terkel was waiting for a number 146 bus alongside. An oral history of world war ii, studs terkel published the. Studs terkel as i mentioned in an earlier post, one of the things id like to. Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. 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. With the good war by studs terkel essays the assistance of our experts, you will start writing better papers and getting better grades.
Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath. Gary younge talks to us oral historian studs terkel. Intro often the darkest times in history provide an aura of excitement not soon forgotten. Or, if you are too young to remember, this is the best place to get a sense of.
Studs terkels the good war theatrical rights worldwide. Hard times, and his pulitzer prizewinning the good war. In 1984, studs terkel coined the moniker that would stick. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. This digital edition was derived from acls humanities e book s online version of the same title.
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. The book is a collection of interviews done by terkel following world war two. This book is a compilation of oral recountings of the great depression of the 20th century, taken by studs terkel. 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 familiar american portrayal of world war ii, and the good war mythology of the us role in it, is not merely bad history. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel. The book can be regarded as an excellent primary source of information from a historical point of view. Jul 22, 2019 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The good war by studs terkel overdrive rakuten overdrive. The good war consists of a series of interviews with various men and women from across the globe who directly experienced. An oral history of world war two new york, 1984 geoffrey. 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.
Terkel explains the title, matteroffactly, as the vietnam, nuclearwar contrast. 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. The myth of the good war geoffrey wheatcroft news the. The good assignment even, following wwii it was no easy task for japaneseamerican like yuriko hohri to find their spot back in society. The richest and most powerful single document of the american experience in world war ii the boston globe. Bertrands race, rock, and elvis looks into the arguments of rocknrolls impact on changing postwar race relations in the united.
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. 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. 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. Buy the good war by studs terkel online at alibris. The good war, for which studs terkel won the pulitzer prize, is a testament not. Red prendergast, who describes his experiences as an army infantryman in world war ii. 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. 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.
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. A search for who we are about the evolution and the future of the human species. 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. However, terkel seems to have taken a definite antiwar stance with this book. No matter how gruesome the memories are, relatively few of the interviewees said they would have been better off without the experience.
Read the good war online by studs terkel books free 30day. An oral history of world war ii 1984 by studs terkel daniel. The truth about world war ii from the october 11, 2012 issue. Red prendergast interview by thisisdrew from desktop or your mobile device.
An oral history of world war ii by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as the body. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. The reading that i personally enjoyed the most was the. An oral history of world war two is a telling of the oral history of world war ii written by studs terkel. The great studs terkel, immortalized on canvas, in his. Studs terkel was a graduate of the university of chicago in 1932 and then from the chicago law school in 1934. 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. In recording this oral history, studs terkel interviewed over 100 individuals who shared their thoughts or experiences of the great depression. 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. Among the interviews youll hear this week are a telephone operator and hotel piano player.
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. 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. 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. Analysis of studs terkel s the good war 789 words cram. Studs terkel has 67 books on goodreads with 66240 ratings. An oral history of world war two studs terkel download bok. 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. No matter how gruesome the memories are, relatively few of the interviewees said they. The work received the 1985 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. In her book the anarchy of empire, kaplan analyzes the american national. The work won the 1985 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction.
Based on studs terkels pulitzer prizewinning book, the good war, conceived and created by david h. While it is true, there is always a way to simplify the process of getting to the goal. 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. 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.
Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. From a pipe fitters apprentice at pearl harbor to a crew member of the flight that dropped the. 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. At first, i thought it would be a long boring book to have to read, but i soon was very anxious to continue my reading. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. An oral history of world war ii 1984 is an oral history of world war ii compiled by studs terkel. America is studs terkels look at twentieth century urban life in and around chicago. Except for a few books published shortly after the war and quickly. His other oral histories include hard times andworking. The great studs terkel, immortalized on canvas, in his hometown. The good war an oral history of world war two studs. Sep 25, 2016 all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working.
After i began reading the book my american century by studs terkel, i quickly became interested in reading further. 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. 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. Ma thesis, american studies program, utrecht university. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Studs terkels the good war was published by the new press in1984.