1919 OVERVIEW
Songs: Empire of the Mind and We Made It
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of resources (or even close to one). These are resources that I can vouch for because I’ve read, listened to, or watched them. And they have directly impacted the writing of After the War: 1919 and the Search for Peace. If you have a resource you’d like to share, I want to know! Please send me an email at remember@mobilizethepoets.com. -Ken
Books
Savage Peace: Hope and Fear in America, 1919 by Ann Hagedorn
The book that started it all. This is the quintessential read for a comprehensive history of the year 1919 from a U.S. perspective. It’s a beautifully written narrative that weaves in and out of a number of people’s lives. And it touches on all the major issues of the time. It’s surprising how easy it is to read when you consider the depth of research involved. Without this book, I’m not sure that there would even be an After the War.
Adam Hochschild is an incredible author with an impressive list of books under his belt. I had already read his To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914–1918 (which I considered writing a show based on) and so was excited to find out he had written a book about the post war climate in the U.S. Like the title says, this one looks at the darkest corners of that time period (and there are many).
1919: The Year That Changed America by Martin Sandler
Sure it says it’s a children’s book, but this is for adults too. It touches on five major topics of the 1919: the Great Boston Molasses Flood, Race Riots, Strikes, Prohibition, and the Red Scare. It’s an oversize coffee table book with beautiful pictures. This book is a great way to get a brief introduction into the crazy world of 1919.
Podcasts
The Year That Was: Season 1 by Elizabeth Lunday
I didn’t discover Elizabeth Lunday’s podcast until I’d been working on this show for a few years. And so I found it uncanny how much there is in common topically with After the War. Lunday created a 27 episode series all about the year 1919. It’s easily the most comprehensive podcast about 1919 that I’ve encountered.. She is an eloquent speaker who breaks down complex issues into a digestible, easy to listen to narratives. She’s funny, personable, and well-researched. If you like podcasts start here.
1919: The Year of the Crack-Up by Ted Widmer
This was the first podcast I encountered about 1919, and it’s great. There are 19 episodes, each with a different guest. He touches on some of the lesser known parts of 1919 (assuming there are greater known parts of 1919), and in one episode, I learned a tidbit that led to the name Mobilize the Poets. Free t-shirt to the first person who finds it and emails me with the answer.