She relates having attended a couple of Communist Party meetings with her long-term partner, mystery writer Dashiell Hammett (who actually became a member), as well as her involvement in various progressive causes from loyalist support in the Spanish Civil War to the civil rights movement. and the U.S.S.R., and gained momentum with the rise of publicity-seeking, red-baiting Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy вЂ“ as well as the progressive movement and her involvement in it, including some of the events that likely contributed to the CommitteeвЂ™s interest in her. Hellman opens with a brief summation of the anti-Communist hysteria of the period вЂ“ which began in earnest after the end of World War II with increasing tensions between the U.S. Hellman opens with a brief summation of the anti-Communist hysteria of the period вЂ“ which began in earnest after the end of World War II with increasing tensions bet In Lillian HellmanвЂ™s memoir entitled Scoundrel Time, the renowned playwright addresses the subject of the House Committee on Un-American Activities and its investigations into alleged Communist infiltration of the entertainment industry in the 1940s and 50s from the perspective of her own personal experience as a subpoenaed witness. In Lillian HellmanвЂ™s memoir entitled Scoundrel Time, the renowned playwright addresses the subject of the House Committee on Un-American Activities and its investigations into alleged Communist infiltration of the entertainment industry in the 1940s and 50s from the perspective of her own personal experience as a subpoenaed witness.

It's another reminder - not that we need one nowadays - that, even in our republic, political power can find its way into the hands of bigoted, dishonest, self-aggrandizing, vengeful people.more Her courage is uplifting but the narrative should, it seems to me, be more upsetting in 2016 than when the work was published (1976). Hellman managed to avoid both imprisonment and betrayal of her convictions. Lives - many lives - were ruined by lies told as a way of avoiding being blacklisted. Wills prepares us for Lillian Hellman's personal account of the period during which she, like other writers, actors, and directors, had to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Lives - many lives - were ruined by lies told as a way of avoiding being blacklisted Garry Wills's Introduction to Scoundrel Time informs without entertaining us - a 'fact,' not a fault there is, after all, nothing amusing about the anti-Communist 'witch hunts' in mid-twentieth-century America. Garry Wills's Introduction to Scoundrel Time informs without entertaining us - a 'fact,' not a fault there is, after all, nothing amusing about the anti-Communist 'witch hunts' in mid-twentieth-century America. First published in 1972, her retelling of the time features a remarkable cast of characters, including her lover, novelist Dashiell Hammett, a slew of famous friends and colleagues, and a pack of 'scoundrels' - ruthless, ambitious politicians and the people who complied with their demands.more Nonetheless the experience brought devastating controversy and loss. Terrified yet defiant, Hellman refused to incriminate herself or others, and managed to avoid trial. In 1952, Hellman joined the ranks of intellectuals and artists called before Congress to testify about political subversion. Nonetheless the experience brought devastating controve The third volume of memoirs from the National Book Award-winning playwright Lillian Hellman.

The third volume of memoirs from the National Book Award-winning playwright Lillian Hellman.

Scoundrels mousterpiece theatre