The Writers Group of the S.C.R. Answering Questions from the Soviet Writers on Contemporary British Writing, October 24th, 1945

Published by The Writers Group of the Society for Cultural Relations with the U.S.S.R., England and Wales, 1945

About this Item

Eight mimeograph typescripts. Quartos. Each between 8pp. and 18pp. All in self-wrappers side stapled and with two punch holes at the spine. Overall near fine with minor edgewear, hint of oxidation at the staples and small indentations near the staples from being stored together. A group of eight transcripts from a coordinated one-day talk with various English and Welch intellectuals hosted by The Writers Group of the Society for Cultural Relations with the U.S.S.R. Locations included Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Taunton, and Welwyn Garden City in England and Cardiff in Wales. Each event featured the same series of question from unidentified Soviet writer posed by a designated "Question Master" to a group of three to five university professors, poets, writers, journalists and critics, referred to as the "Brain Trust." Some typescripts include information about the various participants, while others contain only the responses to the questions: "What new feature has war introduced into British literature?"; "What part do British writers play in the British theatre today?"; and "Any influence from contemporary Russian writers?" Among the most notable members of the various "Brain Trusts" are: Olaf Stapledon, Rex Warner, Jack Lindsay, Julian Symons, Phyllis Bentley, Leonard Strong, Gerald Bullett, Kenneth Muir, and Keidrych Rhys. Little appears to have been written about The Writers Group of the Society for Cultural Relations with the U.S.S.R., which was composed of a group of British writers and intellectuals sympathetic to the Russian state in the years before and after World War II. It was founded around 1944 and lead by the author J.B. Priestly, who served as its president. Following the war, the group was quickly label as subversive by both the American and British intelligence services, who in one documented case surveilled the Australian writer and member Jack Lindsay during his visit to England in 1949. This national event, held just over a month after the official end of the WWII, is referenced in a few passingly reports of the day, but no further information could be found. Rare with *OCLC* locating not copies.

Seller Inventory # 550811

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Writers Group of the S.C.R. Answering Questions from the Soviet Writers on Contemporary British Writing, October 24th, 1945
• Publisher: The Writers Group of the Society for Cultural Relations with the U.S.S.R., England and Wales
• Publication Date: 1945
• Binding: Softcover
• Condition: Near Fine