Malcolm Cowley

Malcolm Cowley (1898-1989) was an American literary critic, editor, and poet who played a crucial role in shaping America's understanding of the Lost Generation writers and other major literary movements of the 20th century. As literary editor of The New Republic from 1929 to 1944, Cowley helped introduce and promote significant writers including William Faulkner, John Cheever, and Jack Kerouac. His memoir "Exile's Return" (1934) provided one of the first and most influential accounts of the expatriate writers in 1920s Paris, documenting the experiences of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others. Cowley's advocacy was instrumental in reviving William Faulkner's literary reputation in the 1940s, particularly through his editing of "The Portable Faulkner" (1946) when much of Faulkner's work was out of print. His critical works include "A Second Flowering" (1973), which examines the major writers of the 1920s, and "The Dream of the Golden Mountains" (1980), chronicling Depression-era American literature. Throughout his long career spanning six decades, Cowley maintained extensive correspondence with many of the century's most important writers and served as a bridge between different literary generations. His personal papers and letters, housed at the Newberry Library in Chicago, remain a valuable resource for literary scholars.

Readers value Cowley's first-hand perspective on 20th century literary figures, with his memoir "Exile's Return" receiving particular attention for its intimate portrayal of Lost Generation writers. Readers appreciate: - Clear, accessible writing style that makes complex literary history engaging - Personal anecdotes about interactions with famous authors - Detailed observations of Paris literary scene in the 1920s - Balanced critical analysis of authors' works Common criticisms: - Some sections focus too heavily on political ideology over literary content - Occasional repetition between different works - Limited coverage of female writers and minority voices Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "Exile's Return": 4.0/5 (500+ ratings) - "A Second Flowering": 4.2/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: - "The Portable Faulkner": 4.5/5 (50+ reviews) One reader noted: "Cowley's personal experiences with these authors give insights you won't find elsewhere." Another commented: "His political views sometimes overshadow the literary analysis."

Exile's Return: A Literary Odyssey of the 1920s (1934) A memoir and critical analysis chronicling the Lost Generation of American writers in Paris during the 1920s.

The Literary Situation (1954) An examination of American literary culture and publishing in the mid-twentieth century, focusing on changes in the industry after World War II.

A Second Flowering: Works and Days of the Lost Generation (1973) A detailed study of major writers from the Lost Generation, including Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Dos Passos.

And I Worked at the Writer's Trade (1978) Autobiographical accounts of Cowley's experiences as an editor, critic, and writer throughout his career.

The Dream of the Golden Mountains: Remembering the 1930s (1980) A personal memoir focusing on American literary and political movements during the Great Depression.

The Faulkner-Cowley File: Letters and Memories, 1944-1962 (1966) A collection of correspondence between Cowley and William Faulkner, documenting their literary relationship.

Blue Juniata: Collected Poems (1929) Cowley's only collection of poetry, containing works about his Pennsylvania childhood and World War I experiences.

Think Back on Us: A Contemporary Chronicle of the 1930s (1967) A compilation of Cowley's essays and reviews from the 1930s, offering historical perspective on the decade's literary developments.

Edmund Wilson wrote literary criticism and cultural commentary during the same era as Cowley, covering the Lost Generation and modernist writers. He shared Cowley's intellectual approach to analyzing American literature and similarly documented the expatriate scene in Paris.

Alfred Kazin chronicled American literary life and the development of American writing in works like "On Native Grounds." He focused on many of the same writers and cultural movements as Cowley, particularly examining the 1930s literary landscape.

Van Wyck Brooks wrote about American literary history and cultural development during the first half of the 20th century. His work "The Flowering of New England" covers similar territory to Cowley's examinations of American literary circles.

Lewis Mumford wrote cultural criticism and literary analysis that paralleled Cowley's interests in American intellectual life between the wars. He documented the same literary and social movements while adding architectural and urban planning perspectives.

Kenneth Burke developed theories about literature and rhetoric while moving in the same modernist circles as Cowley. Their correspondence and intellectual exchange influenced both writers' work on literary criticism and cultural analysis.