A prominent US social critic during the middle of the 20th century, Macdonald (1906-82) was derided by scholars during his lifetime and virtually forgotten thereafter. While acknowledging his
failures, Lewandowski (Opole U., Poland) points out his prophetic statements, and repositions him in the field of cultural studies from radical left-wing to the conservative tradition of
criticism. He discusses early critiques and aesthetic statements, Macdonald at Partisan Review, Politics and culture, a theory of mass culture, and masscult and midcult. He does not provide an
index. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
