Dreams Die Hard
Encyclopedia
Dreams Die Hard is an autobiographical
book written in 1982 by David Harris
, a prominent anti-Vietnam War
activist during the 1960s.
The book chronicles the experiences of three men--Harris, Allard Lowenstein, and Dennis Sweeney
--amid the political and social tumult of the 1960s, as well as the aftermath of these experiences. Specifically, paranoid schizophrenia and two decades of accumulated disillusionment and homophobia
eventually lead a deranged Sweeney to murder Lowenstein.
One-term Congressman Lowenstein--"the world's oldest student activist"--had, by his forties, lived decades in various political arenas. From the Mississippi Freedom Summer
project in the Deep South, to the Dump Johnson campaign of 1968, 'Allard' was passionate and well-connected in liberal circles. He was most likely bisexual before the word was current,
Harris's detailed and historical narration—written in an attempt to explain the lives of each of the characters—discusses how the three activists began their affiliations at Stanford University
, and continued through the turbulent decade.
Lowenstein's sexual orientation reappears throughout the book and serves as one of many connections between the three main figures: both Harris and Sweeney rejected overt passes from Lowenstein; Harris's reaction was thoughtful, empathetic, and verbal; but Sweeney's reaction was decidedly irrational and pdysical and ended in murder
.
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
book written in 1982 by David Harris
David Harris (protestor)
David Victor Harris is an American journalist and author. He is known chiefly for his role as an anti-war activist during the Vietnam War, most notably as a leading opponent of the Draft.-Early life and education:...
, a prominent anti-Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
activist during the 1960s.
The book chronicles the experiences of three men--Harris, Allard Lowenstein, and Dennis Sweeney
Dennis Sweeney
Dennis Sweeney was an anti-Vietnam War protestor and civil rights activist in the 1960s. He worked with SNCC in their voter registration drives in Mississippi...
--amid the political and social tumult of the 1960s, as well as the aftermath of these experiences. Specifically, paranoid schizophrenia and two decades of accumulated disillusionment and homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
eventually lead a deranged Sweeney to murder Lowenstein.
One-term Congressman Lowenstein--"the world's oldest student activist"--had, by his forties, lived decades in various political arenas. From the Mississippi Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was a campaign in the United States launched in June 1964 to attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi which had historically excluded most blacks from voting...
project in the Deep South, to the Dump Johnson campaign of 1968, 'Allard' was passionate and well-connected in liberal circles. He was most likely bisexual before the word was current,
Harris's detailed and historical narration—written in an attempt to explain the lives of each of the characters—discusses how the three activists began their affiliations at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and continued through the turbulent decade.
Lowenstein's sexual orientation reappears throughout the book and serves as one of many connections between the three main figures: both Harris and Sweeney rejected overt passes from Lowenstein; Harris's reaction was thoughtful, empathetic, and verbal; but Sweeney's reaction was decidedly irrational and pdysical and ended in murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
.