John Dos Passos (1896-1970) was a journalist and novelist remembered today for his radical ideas and literary experimentation. He focused on social and political issues in much of his writing – problems such as the lack of freedom and the class system in America. He is best known for his powerful, highly innovative U. S. A. trilogy:  The 42nd Parallel (1930), 1919 (1932), and The Big Money (1936).