Russell Baker, a New York Times Washington correspondent, gets a lot off his chest [in An American in Washington] writing about Washington as a tribal entity, filled with bizarre customs. Considerable information is packed into chapters satirizing Society, Bureaucrats, Diplomats, Congress, the Presidency, etc. But the style is difficult, overcrowded with metaphors, and only fairly successful in its humor…. A sketch book, in which the individual scenes are sharper than the end view, and more satisfying in its occasional vignettes and insights. (pp. 765-66).
A review of "An American in Washington," in Virginia Kirkus' Service, Vol. XXIX, No. 16, August 15, 1961, pp. 765-66.
This is a free excerpt of 104 words. There are 109 words (approx.
1 page at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.
Read the rest of this Criticism with our Baker, Russell (Wayne) 1925–: Critical Essay by Virginia Kirkus' Service Access Pass.
