Thursday, June 25, 2020

Scoundrel Time by Lillian Hellman

(pb; 1976: nonfiction. “Introduction” by Garry Willis)

From the back cover

“‘I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashions.’

“In 1952, Lillian Hellman refused to name other people─although she offered to talk about herself─before the House Un-American Activities Committee. For this singular act of moral courage she paid dearly. Blacklisted, forced to sell her home, she watched as others sacrificed friends to save their careers. Now Lillian Hellman names names as she writes her most intimate, painful and moving memoir─her personal history of an unfortunate era.”


Review

Scoundrel is an excellent, smart, succinct, often quotable, and timely read about the abuse of power, shady political operators and those they victimize (as well as those who let themselves be victimized). Dashiell Hammett fans may also appreciate this further glimpse of Hammett, Hellman and their decades-spanning friendship. Worth owning, this.

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