Re: Lanny Budd series by Upton Sinclair.

Your note reminded of that first book.  It gave a very pleasant picture of
Germany before WW1 and a people who enjoyed a good life.
How many books in the series?

-- 
John Berg
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Alan Meyer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "John Berg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > A socialist interpretation of the contribution of the Arms industry to
> > making war from before WWI to WWII.  How many books in the series?  How
> well
> > have they stood up--as fact and story?
> >
> > -- 
> > John Berg
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> I first discovered these eons ago at age 13, when my mother
> revealed to me that my nickname, "Lanny", came from this
> series.
>
> I loved the books.  They were about capitalism, communism,
> and fascism; about art and music; about sex and convention;
> about America and Europe; and many other things.  The
> characterization above about the Arms industry is only
> a very narrow part of the theme of the books.
>
> If I remember correctly, the first book begins in 1913 when
> Lanny Budd, age 13, is living with his mother a beautiful
> American woman living on the French Riviera in a villa paid
> for by an American arms manufacturer who keeps her as his
> mistress.
>
> With many international friends and connections, some among
> the rich and powerful, Lanny gets an inside view the nastiness
> of politics and the horror of fascism.
>
> I don't know if I would like them as much today as I did when
> I was a teenager.  At that time, it was all heady, grown up,
> intelligent seeming stuff.  Someday I may re-read them and see.
>
> Whether or not they stand up as fact, and I think they would
> hold up better rather than worse, they are a wonderful
> expression of the "progressive" world view of the 20's,
> 30's and 40's.
>
>    Alan
>
>