One Man's Initiation—1917

One young man. One world at war. Nothing would ever be the same.

John Dos Passos’s One Man’s Initiation—1917 is a powerful coming-of-age novel that chronicles the awakening of a young American volunteer during the First World War. Drawing heavily on Dos Passos’s own experiences as an ambulance driver in France, the novel follows Martin Howe as he encounters the brutal realities of modern warfare and the profound moral questions it raises. What begins as an idealistic journey soon becomes a deeply personal confrontation with violence, disillusionment, and the loss of innocence. Blending vivid realism with the psychological insight that would later define his greatest works, Dos Passos creates a moving portrait of a generation forever changed by war and its consequences.

• First published in 1920
• John Dos Passos’s debut novel, inspired by his firsthand experiences during the First World War
• A powerful exploration of war, idealism, disillusionment, courage, and the loss of innocence

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A poignant and deeply human novel, One Man’s Initiation—1917 marks the emergence of one of America’s great modernist writers and offers an unforgettable meditation on war, conscience, and the price of experience.

About the Author

John Dos Passos (1896–1970) was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, and artist whose innovative narrative techniques transformed twentieth-century literature. Best known for Manhattan Transfer and the landmark U.S.A.trilogy—The 42nd Parallel, 1919, and The Big Money—he combined fiction, history, journalism, and social commentary to create panoramic portraits of modern life. His works explored politics, culture, war, and the forces that shaped the modern world, establishing him as one of the most original voices of American modernism.