The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Spam luncheon meat was introduced by Hormel Foods in 1937. The previous year, the company had devised a recipe for a canned loaf of spiced ham. Because this product was quickly copied by imitators, though, Jay C. Hormel was determined to give it a distinctive name that would set it apart from competitors. He offered a $100 prize, and the winning name was submitted by Kenneth Daigneau, the brother of a Hormel vice president.
In 1941, the U.S. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, providing for aid to Allied forces. Soon many millions of cans of Spam were being shipped to Great Britain and Russia. Before long, the ubiquitous luncheon meat had become notorious as "the ham that didn't pass its physical" and "a meatball without basic training." Nevertheless the product played an important role in helping sustain Allied forces during World War II.
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