"One Man's Initiation—1917" is a novel written by American author John Dos Passos, published in 1920. The novel is a semi-autobiographical work that draws on Dos Passos' own experiences during World War I. The story follows the journey of John Andrews, a young American who enlists in the ambulance corps of the American Red Cross during World War I. The novel explores his experiences on the battlefield, the challenges he faces, and the impact of war on his psyche and worldview. It vividly depicts the horrors and disillusionment of war, as well as the camaraderie among soldiers. "One Man's Initiation—1917" is considered one of Dos Passos' early works, and it reflects the impact of his own experiences as an ambulance driver during the war. The novel is known for its realistic portrayal of the wartime atmosphere and the psychological effects of combat. It provides valuable insights into the author's literary development and his exploration of social and political themes.

A short novel based in part on Dos Passos's own experiences as an ambulance driver in World War I.

One Man's Initiation: 1917 First Encounter by John Dos Passos Springing from the author's first-hand experience as an ambulance driver and Red Cross worker during World War I, this autobiographical first novel is noteworthy for its vivid and colorful evocation of France at that time and for its passionate indictment of war. The author's disillusionment with war for a time turned him toward socialism and against capitalism. Ultimately, after being labeled pro-German and a pacifist, the author concluded that the quasi-religion of Marxism turned loose more brutal aggression than poor old Capitalism ever dreamed of. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

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Before he began the U.S.A. trilogy, Dos Passos prefigured his groundbreaking epic through three novels that provide a fascinating glimpse into his achievement as an avant-garde prose stylist while they incisively chronicle early 20th-century Europe and America.