H. L. Mencken
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"Henry Louis" ""H. L."" "Mencken" was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satire/satirist, Social criticism/critic of American life and culture, scholar of American English, and noted curmudgeon. Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose Stylistics (linguistics)/stylists of the first half of the twentieth century.

Mencken is known for The American Language, a multi-volume study of how the English language is spoken in the United States, and his satirical reporting on the Scopes trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey Trial". He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians and contemporary movements.

As an admirer of German philosopher Nietzsche, he was a detractor of religion in general, populism, and representative democracy, which he believed was a system in which inferior men dominated their superiors. Mencken was a supporter of scientific progress, skeptical of economic theories and critical of osteopathic/chiropractic medicine.

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