Scoundrel Time
- ISBN
- 0316355151
- Publisher
- Little, Brown and Company
- Published
- 1976
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 155
- Genre
- Autobiography
About the book
Scoundrel Time is Lillian Hellman's memoir about her life and experiences during early 1950s. The book tells the story of how she was ordered to appear before a government committee to answer questions about communism. She famously refused to cooperate or give the names of her friends, stating she would not hurt others to save herself. Because of this stand, she and her partner, Dashiell Hammett, faced heavy fines, lost their jobs, and struggled with money. Throughout the book, Hellman shares her anger toward politicians who created a climate of fear, and she also criticizes everyday Americans and intellectuals who stayed silent or went along with the unfair investigations instead of speaking up for freedom.