Now that I am in Baltimore again, I turn to reading one of her most favorite literary sons - the fiery critic Mencken. He was one of my favorites when I was younger, and he is almost as good as I remember him.

This anthology of his earlier writings covers a wide variety of literature, as Mencken himself does. His judgments have survived the ages well. Most of what he predicted would survive has done so. Most of the schlock he so violently and amusingly speared has thankfully faded into oblivion. I wonder what he's write about some of today's garbage - he'd roll over in his grave if he saw Twilight.

Of course, he is wrong about some things, but admits as much. He is a bit of an elitist - but then again, being a freethinker and America's foremost litterateur in the age of the Scopes trial and Prohibition gives him some leeway to think this way.

Recommended for anybody who wants some good fiery humor. Don't read too much in one sitting.

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