Bloody Crossroads

by Norman Podhoretz

A series of essays dealing with authors who stand at the bloody crossroads where literature and politics meet. Such individuals often suffer imprisonment or worse for writing truth as they see it.

Genres: Politics

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Norman Podhoretz is an American neoconservative writer and editor.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Poderhoretz, the neo-conservative intellectual examines literature of the last century in which politics and culture cross. The best part of this book for me was the explanation of what neo-conservativism is. Throughout the book however, the author tries to claim various authors for "his team". Interesting connection in first chapter, "Why the God that failed failed", Gramsci, and Abram Tertz(On socialist realism).

See my notes on this book My Detailed Notes on Bloody Crossroads

[Jeff Keehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in my student days, I used to read Commentary. At that time, I considered it a centrist journal with a lot of good articles on literature. After reading his book, Making it, I admired Podhoretz for his journey and his talent. I don't recall this book. I only know I read it because it's on my Books Read list. I would venture to say that anything this man wrote before 2000 is worth reading. Now I don't even recognize Commentary: it has become an Alt-Right rag that's as crazy as Trump in its own way.

[SusanJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give books 5 stars when they are of great value to me, without considering how well they might work for others. I'm energized and eager to learn more about Podhoretz and his version of neoconservatism, but mostly I want to figure out how his perspectives might have evolved today. Apparently Podhoretz is still living, 95 years old, but not still writing. Too bad. I'd love to hear his thoughts.

Many of the essays in this book speak to issues and public figures I've been interested in, in the past, but not thought about lately, and I love hearing Podhoretz's take on Kissinger, Milan Kundera, communism (it was still the Soviet era), Solzhenitsyn, Henry Adams, Orwell, Camus. People call him "outspoken" and he certainly is. But he's also quite thoughtful and widely read, and I find his opinions well worth considering. I especially like that he has first-hand experience with both right and left, politically. And he's steeped in religious Judaism, which a big plus as well.

But what really has me going, is wanting to find a current counterpart to Podhoretz's descriptions of the intersection of "literature and politics." I just found a book on Kindle called "Bloody Crossroads 2020: Art, Entertainment, and Resistance to Trump." We'll see where that leads.

Suggestions very welcome.