One Man's Initiation: 1917
One Man's Initiation: 1917, first published in 1920, is a stark portrayal of the brutality and disillusionment of World War I. Written from Dos Passos's firsthand experiences as an ambulance driver, the novel follows young American protagonist Martin Howe as he navigates the grim realities of war in France. Stripped of romantic ideals, Howe encounters the horror, devastation, and absurdity of conflict, leaving him irrevocably changed. Known for its anti-war message and modernist style, Dos Passos's debut novel captures the psychological toll of warfare and foreshadows his later works critiquing American society and politics.
