The Lost Generation Writers
The Lost Generation (迷惘的一代) refers to a group of American writers who came of age during World War I (1914–1918) and the postwar disillusionment of the 1920s. They were deeply affected by the horrors of war, the collapse of traditional values, and a sense of alienation in modern society. The term was popularized by Gertrude Stein (格特鲁德·斯泰因) and later used by Ernest Hemingway (欧内斯特·海明威) in his novel The Sun Also Rises (《太阳照常升起》).
Key Characteristics of the Lost Generation:
Disillusionment with Society – Many lost faith in patriotism, religion, and traditional morals after witnessing the brutality of war.
Expatriate Lifestyle – Writers like Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald (菲茨杰拉德), and T.S. Eliot (艾略特) lived in Europe (especially Paris) to escape America’s materialism and conservatism.
Search for Meaning – Their works often explore themes of alienation, hedonism, and existential crisis.
Modernist Style – They experimented with stream of consciousness, fragmented narratives, and symbolism.
Major Writers & Works:
Ernest Hemingway – The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms (1929)
F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby (《了不起的盖茨比》, 1925)
T.S. Eliot – The Waste Land (《荒原》, 1922)
Gertrude Stein – Mentor to many Lost Generation writers
Why Study the Lost Generation?
They shaped modern American literature with their bold themes and styles.
Their works reflect the cultural and psychological impact of war.
Their critiques of society remain relevant today.
The Lost Generation’s works are essential for understanding 20th-century American literature and the human condition in times of crisis.
