When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Mark 1:16-20 (1.2.138-9)
- Benedict de Spinoza (first reference 1.5.1)
- Karl Marx (first reference 1.5.161)
- William Shakespeare (first reference 1.5.161)
- Doctor Samuel Johnson (2.1.31)
- "The Vicar of Wakefield," Oliver Goldsmith (2.1.31)
- Book of Luke, the Bible (2.3.82)
- Booker T. Washington (2.6.14)
- The Old Testament (2.7.52)
- Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott (2.9.54)
- Pantheism (2.11.33)
Historical References
- "War in the Orient," Japan invading China in 1937 (1.2.28)
- Christopher Columbus (1.2.79)
- Thomas Edison (1.3.20)
- Mussolini (1.3.20, 2.8.94)
- Eugenics (1.5.32)
- American Civil War (2.1.36)
- Fascists (2.1.90, 2.9.29, various throughout)
- Nazis (2.1.90, various throughout)
- Neville Chamberlain, British Prime Minister (2.1.14)
- The Munich Pact between Chamberlain and Hitler (2.2.14)
- Armistice of World War I (2.2.92)
- Communist Party (2.4.26)
- Joseph Stalin (2.4.26)
- American Revolution (2.4.41, 2.8.32)
- D.A.R., Daughters of the American Revolution (2.4.41)
- Warden Lawes and Sing Sing prison (2.5.76)
- The Scottsboro Trial (2.6.14)
- George Washington Carver (2.6.14)
- C.I.O., American labor union (2.7.6)
- "Red Bolshevik" (2.12.27)
Pop Culture References
- Dick Tracy (1.3.20)
- Jeanette MacDonald, actress, 1930s (1.3.48)
- Carole Lombard, actress (2.1.3, 2.9.15)
- Arturo Toscanini, Italian conductor (2.1.3)
- Joe Louis, boxer (2.1.21)
- Mountain Man Dean, wrestler (2.1.21)
- Mozart (1.3.22, 2.1.85, various throughout)
- Beethoven (2.1.127)
- Beethoven's Third Symphony (2.1.127, various throughout as "the symphony")
- "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight," song (2.2.94)
- National Geographic (2.5.24, various throughout)
- Mickey Mouse (2.7.79, 2.7.96-7)
- Popeye (2.7.79, 2.7.97)
- "K-K-K-Katie," song (2.8.89)
- "Love's Old Sweet Song" (2.8.89)
- Nehi (2.11.77)
- Woolworth's ten-cent store (2.14.72)