Max Eastman

Eastman, MAX (Eastman, Max) (1883-1969), American writer. Born January 4, 1883 in Kanandeygua (pc. New York) in a family of Protestant priest. In 1905 he graduated from Williams College in Williamstown (pc. Massachusetts), from 1907 to 1910 he studied philosophy at Columbia University under the guidance Dzh.Dyui. In 1912 he was elected editor in chief of 'Messiz' zahirevshego monthly socialist orientation, which he turned into a bright Edition. Served as a literary critic ( "The pleasure of poetry" - Enjoyment of Poetry, 1913).

Eastman since the early days, welcomed the October Revolution in Russia, in early 1918 founded the magazine 'Liberator', who spoke in defense of decisive action the new government. In 1922 he went to Russia where he learned Russian and became acquainted with many leaders of the Bolshevik Party. At the outbreak after the death of Lenin in 1924 supported the struggle for power Leon Trotsky. In the same year he left for Western Europe with a copy of Lenin's political testament, known as "Letter to Congress", which entered into Eastman's book "After the death of Lenin" (Since Lenin Died, 1925).

In 1927 Eastman returned to the United States and to begin translating the works of Trotsky and lectures on politics and poetry. Stalin personally opposed Eastman, calling it 'gangster pen'. Condemning Stalin from the left-leaning, . Eastman published in 1940, two of its main political essays: "Teach it Marxism?" (Marxism: Is It Science?) And "Stalin's Russia" (Stalin's Russia), . which analyzed the failures of the Soviet Union in terms of morality, . policy and practical results,
.

In 1941, Eastman became a freelance editor of Reader's Digest 'and started' pravet '. In the 1950's supported Senator unleashed Dzh.R.Makkarti prosecution of Americans suspected of sympathizing with the Communists. In 1954 released a collection of "Poems five decades" (Poems of Five Decades). Eastman died in Bridgetown (Barbados), March 25, 1969.