1919

War. Revolution. Disillusionment. The world remade—and broken.

In the second novel of John Dos Passos’ groundbreaking U.S.A. Trilogy, the idealism of youth collides with the brutal machinery of World War I and its chaotic aftermath. 1919 sweeps across America and Europe as ordinary men and women are swept into the maelstrom: a merchant sailor chasing freedom at sea, an idealistic young officer, a radical journalist, and others whose lives intersect amid battles, strikes, peace conferences, and revolutionary fervor.

Through his revolutionary collage technique—blending vivid fictional narratives, “Newsreel” montages of headlines and songs, “Camera Eye” stream-of-consciousness fragments, and sharp biographical sketches of real figures such as Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Emma Goldman—Dos Passos paints a panoramic portrait of a nation and a world in violent transformation. The novel captures the patriotic frenzy of war, the horror of the trenches, the betrayal at Versailles, and the restless, radical energy of the postwar years.

A masterpiece of American modernism, 1919 stands as one of the most powerful literary indictments of war and a searing examination of the illusions and realities of the American century.

• First published in 1932
• The middle volume of the landmark U.S.A. Trilogy (The 42nd Parallel, 1919, The Big Money)
• A defining work of literary modernism and social realism

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.
• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.
• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.

A powerful and essential American classic for readers who appreciate bold literary experimentation, sweeping historical panoramas, and unflinching social insight—or the perfect bridge in the U.S.A. Trilogy.

About the Author

John Dos Passos (1896–1970) was an American novelist, playwright, and artist, widely regarded as one of the most innovative voices of the Lost Generation. A master of modernist techniques, his works combine fiction, journalism, and documentary styles to capture the complexity of American life. Best known for the U.S.A. Trilogy, Dos Passos drew from his experiences in World War I, his early leftist convictions, and later political evolution to create enduring literature that chronicles the social, economic, and cultural forces shaping 20th-century America.