Max Eastman Biography
| Occup. | Author |
| From | USA |
| Spouses | Ida Rauh (1911–1922)
Elena Krylenko (1924–1956)
Yvette Skely (1958–1969) |
| Born | January 4, 1883
Canandaigua, New York, USA |
| Died | March 25, 1969
Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Aged | 86 years |
Early Life
Max Eastman was born on January 4, 1883, in the town of Canandaigua, New York, USA. He was the child of Samuel Eastman, a prominent Congregational minister, and Annis Bertha Ford, a women's rights activist and previous instructor. Max grew up in a family that valued education, advocacy, and discussion, which likely influenced his own intellectual pursuits and social involvement.
Eastman participated in Williams College, finishing with a Bachelor of Arts in 1905. He then continued his education at Columbia University, where he earned a Master's degree in 1907 and a Ph.D. in 1911, both in viewpoint. Throughout his time at Columbia, Eastman studied under thinker
John Dewey, who would become a close friend and coach.
Activism and Writing Career
While at Columbia, Eastman developed an enthusiasm for socialism and became involved in numerous political advocacy efforts. In 1912, he helped found the Men's League for Women's Suffrage, and later, in 1917, he joined the Socialist Party of America.
Eastman's political advocacy led him to a career in composing. In 1913, he started work as the editor for The Masses, a socialist magazine that covered problems such as labor rights and promoted the work of artists and writers with similar political leanings. The Masses brought Eastman into contact with numerous influential figures of the time, such as artist John Sloan, authors Floyd Dell and
John Reed, and anarchist
Emma Goldman.
Throughout World War I, Eastman kept his opposition to the war and supported conscientious objectors. This eventually caused The Masses being charged with conspiracy to obstruct military recruitment under the Espionage Act in 1917. Although he was discovered not guilty, the magazine ceased publication in 1918.
Undeterred, Eastman continued his writing and activism by establishing another socialist magazine, The Liberator, with his sis Crystal in 1918. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Eastman composed prolifically, publishing various short articles, essays, and books on socialism, politics, and literature.
Shift in Political Views
In the 1930s, following a see to the Soviet Union, Eastman's political views began to move as he ended up being disillusioned with communism. He openly criticized the Soviet routine and its totalitarian nature, leading to his expulsion from the Socialist Party in 1936. He continued to discuss politics, but his focus shifted toward promoting for private flexibility, democracy, and industrialism.
After World War II, Eastman was a strong opponent of communism and became a prominent figure in American conservative circles. He released works such as "Reflections on the Failure of Socialism" (1955) and "The Decline and Fall of Socialism" (1962), which critiqued socialist and communist ideologies from a pro-democracy, pro-capitalism perspective. He was also a regular contributor to conservative publications like The National Review and The Freeman.
Personal Life
Eastman was wed 4 times. His first marital relationship remained in 1911 to Ida Rauh, a feminist and social activist, with whom he had one kid. They divorced in 1922. He then wed Eliena Krylenko in 1924, a Russian revolutionary who was later revealed to be a Soviet spy. The couple separated in 1932.
His third marriage, in 1934, was to Yvette Surratt, a previous Communist activist who later on became a conservative author. They separated in 1958. In 1959, Eastman wed the artist Elena Krylenko, his previous other half's sibling, and they stayed married up until his death.
Death and Legacy
Max Eastman passed away on March 25, 1969, aged 86, in Bridgetown, Barbados. At the time of his death, he was dealing with his memoirs, which were posthumously released as "Love and Revolution: My Journey through an Epoch" by Elena (Krylenko) Eastman in 1969.
Throughout his life, Eastman's intellectual journey took him from socialism to conservatism, showing the fluidity and intricacy of political ideologies. He left an enduring effect on the American political landscape, and his works remain appropriate today for both historians and political analysts.
Our collection contains 16 quotes who is written / told by Max, under the main topics:
Art -
Pet.
Related authors: Emma Goldman (Activist), Crystal Eastman (Lawyer), John Reed (Journalist), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), John Dewey (Philosopher)
Max Eastman Famous Works:
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