Trinity of Passion : The Literary Left and the Antifascist Crusade

The second of three volumes by Alan Wald that track the political and personal lives of several generations of U.S. left-wing writers, __Trinity of Passion__ carries forward the chronicle launched in __Exiles from a Future Time: The Forging of the Mid-Twentieth-Century Literary Left__. In this volume Wald delves into literary, emotional, and ideological trajectories of radical cultural workers in the era when the International Brigades fought in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and the United States battled in World War II (1941-45). Probing in rich and haunting detail the controversial impact of the Popular Front on literary culture, he explores the ethical and aesthetic challenges that pro-Communist writers faced. Wald presents a cross section of literary talent, from the famous to the forgotten, the major to the minor. The writers examined include Len Zinberg (a.k.a. Ed Lacy), John Oliver Killens, Irwin Shaw, Albert Maltz, Ann Petry, Chester Himes, Henry Roth, Lauren Gilfillan, Ruth McKenney, Morris U. Schappes, and Jo Sinclair. He also uncovers dramatic new information about Arthur Miller's complex commitment to the Left.Confronting heartfelt questions about Jewish masculinity, racism at the core of liberal democracy, the corrosion of utopian dreams, and the thorny interaction between antifascism and Communism, Wald re-creates the intellectual and cultural landscape of a remarkable era. In This Volume Wald Delves Into Literary, Emotional, And Ideological Trajectories Of Radical Cultural Workers In The Era When The International Brigades Fought In The Spanish Civil War (1936-39) And The United States Battled In World War Ii (1941-45). Confronting Questions About Jewish Masculinity, Racism At The Core Of Liberal Democracy, The Corrosion Of Utopian Dreams, And The Thorny Interaction Between Antifascism And Communism, Wald Re-creates The Intellectual And Cultural Landscape Of A Remarkable Era.--publisher's Description. Wald Relies On Original Archival Research And Interviews To Forge A Dramatic Narrative Of The Cultural Left From Innovative Perspectives. He Presents A Cross Section Of Literary Talent, From The Famous To The Forgotten, The Major To The Minor. Basing His Assessments On The Dexterity With Which Writings Conveyed The Emotional Terrain Of Antifascist Struggle And Its Legacy, Wald Examines The Work Of Writers Such As Len Zinberg (a.k.a. Ed Lacy), John Oliver Killens, Irwin Shaw, Albert Maltz, Ann Petry, Chester Himes, Henry Roth, Lauren Filfillan, Ruth Mckenney, Morris U. Schappes, And Jo Sinclair. The Book Culminates In Wald's Exploration Of The Previously Unknown Writings Of Playwright Arthur Miller In The Communist Press.--from The Dust-jacket Front Flap. Introduction: The Strange Career Of Len Zinberg -- Tough Jews In The Spanish Civil War -- The Agony Of The African American Left -- The Peculiarities Of The Germans -- A Rage In Harlem -- Disappearing Acts -- The Conversion Of The Jews -- Arthur Miller's Missing Chapter -- Conclusion: The Fates Of Antifascism. Alan M. Wald. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-302) And Index. The 2nd of three volumes by Wald tracking political & personal lives of several generations of US left-wing writers, "Trinity of Passion" carries forward the chronicle launched in "Exiles from a Future Time: The Forging of the Mid-20th-century Literary Left." This volume delves into literary, emotional & ideological trajectories of radical cultural workers in the era when the Internat'l Brigades fought in the Spanish Civil War ('36-39) & the USA battled in WWII ('41-45). Probing in detail the controversial impact of the Popular Front on literary culture, he explores the ethical & esthetic challenges that pro-Communist writers faced. He presents a cross section of literary talent, from famous to forgotten. The writers examined include Len Zinberg (aka Ed Lacy), John Oliver Killens, Irwin Shaw, Albert Maltz, Ann Petry, Chester Himes, Henry Roth, Lauren Gilfillan, Ruth McKenney, Morris U. Schappes & Jo Sinclair. He also uncovers dramatic new information about Arthur Miller's complex commitment to the Left. Confronting heartfelt questions about Jewish masculinity, racism at the core of liberal democracy, the corrosion of utopian dreams & the thorny interaction between antifascism & Communism, Wald recreates the intellectual & cultural landscape of a remarkable era. Preface Introduction: the strange career of Len Zinberg Tough Jews in the Spanish Civil War The agony of the African American left The peculiarities of the Germans A rage in Harlem Disappearing acts The conversion of the Jews Arthur Miller's missing chapter Conclusion: the fates of antifascism Notes Acknowledgments & Sources Index The second of three volumes by Alan Wald that track the political and personal lives of several generations of U.S. left-wing writers, Trinity of Passion carries forward the chronicle launched in Exiles from a Future Time: The Forging of the Mid-Twentieth-Century Literary Left . In this volume Wald delves into literary, emotional, and ideological trajectories of radical cultural workers in the era when the International Brigades fought in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and the United States battled in World War II (1941-45). Probing in rich and haunting detail the controversial impact of the Popular Front on literary culture, he explores the ethical and aesthetic challenges that pro-Communist writers faced. Wald presents a cross section of literary talent, from the famous to the forgotten, the major to the minor. The writers examined include Len Zinberg (a.k.a. Ed Lacy), John Oliver Killens, Irwin Shaw, Albert Maltz, Ann Petry, Chester Himes, Henry Roth, Lauren Gilfillan, Ruth McKenney, Morris U. Schappes, and Jo Sinclair. He also uncovers dramatic new information about Arthur Miller's complex commitment to the Left. Confronting heartfelt questions about Jewish masculinity, racism at the core of liberal democracy, the corrosion of utopian dreams, and the thorny interaction between antifascism and Communism, Wald re-creates the intellectual and cultural landscape of a remarkable era. Part of a series of three volumes that track the lives of several generations of US left-wing writers, this volume delves into literary, emotional, and ideological trajectories of radical cultural workers in the era when the International Brigades fought in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and the US battled in World War II (1941-45).