Life and Letters

Overview

Life and Letters was an English literary journal first published between June 1928 and April 1935.

The magazine was edited from first publication by Desmond MacCarthy. MacCarthy was a renowned literary and dramatic critic; he was also a member of the Bloomsbury Group. He became a Journalist in 1903 and in 1917 he became a drama critic (and eventual literary editor) for the New Statesman, publishing under the pen-name “The Affable Hawk. After losing interest in the journal, MacCarthy decided to join another and thus became the first editor for Life and Letters. In 1943 Ellis Roberts took over from MacCarthy as Editor.

The magazine featured writing from a myriad of contributors, including well known writers like  E. M. Forster, Thomas Hardy, and Virginia Woolf. The magazine published a number of significant and questionable articles by Cyril Connolly, including "Conversations in Berlin", "The Position of Joyce" (April 1929), "England not my England" (October 1929) and "Under which King?" Many works published in this magazine seemed to wrestle with difficult topics, like social and personal recovery from the Great War and an exploration of changes in literary movements, as well critical approach to cultural and political traditions.

The title was revived in 1945 as Life and Letters and the London Mercury and Bookman, but ultimately ceased publication in 1950.