Literature, Criticism, and Politics in the Early New Left, 1956–62

TY - JOUR

T1 - Literature, Criticism, and Politics in the Early New Left, 1956–62

AU - Hutton, Alexander

PY - 2016/3

Y1 - 2016/3

N2 - The first New Left defined itself through literature in a number of ways. Ideas of ‘Socialist Humanism’ and the politically committed artist were formed against the backdrop of both the repudiation of both Communism and Capitalism as ideologies, as well as against the conservative metropolitan scene which dominated British literary life. The New Left was intellectually and culturally shaped by its response to the ‘Angry Young men’ generation of writers of the early 1950s and by its championing of ‘New Wave’ theatre. The political, social, and intellectual content of the New Left can be better understood through its cultural context. Though short-lived, the early New Left nurtured a significant range of literary and cultural talent.

AB - The first New Left defined itself through literature in a number of ways. Ideas of ‘Socialist Humanism’ and the politically committed artist were formed against the backdrop of both the repudiation of both Communism and Capitalism as ideologies, as well as against the conservative metropolitan scene which dominated British literary life. The New Left was intellectually and culturally shaped by its response to the ‘Angry Young men’ generation of writers of the early 1950s and by its championing of ‘New Wave’ theatre. The political, social, and intellectual content of the New Left can be better understood through its cultural context. Though short-lived, the early New Left nurtured a significant range of literary and cultural talent.

U2 - 10.1093/tcbh/hwv034

DO - 10.1093/tcbh/hwv034

M3 - Article

SN - 0955-2359

VL - 27

SP - 51

EP - 75

JO - Twentieth Century British History

JF - Twentieth Century British History

IS - 1

ER -