Baltimore, Maryland

Mencken was born in Baltimore and spent his entire life there and did all of his writing there.

The Universe

In Mencken's view, the universe is meaningless and absurd and humanity is even more absurd for thinking he is the center of it.

The United States

Mencken's country of origin and country of concern in his writings.

The South

Mencken lived in Baltimore, a nominally Southern city, but he despised the South as a whole, at least the Post-Civil War South.

The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore's most famous paper and one of the most famous newspapers of record in the United States. Mencken was among its most famous writers and editors.

The Smart Set

A literary magazine Mencken wrote for in the twenties.

The American Mercury

A magazine Mencken co-founded in 1924 and wrote for until 1933.

Aphorisms

Pithy words of wisdom that Mencken was famous for coining.

Religion