The Adelphi

Overview

The word Adelphi means “siblibgs” in ancient Greek. The periodical began in 1922 with John Middleton Murray acting as lead editor. The periodical published a variety of literature, from poetry to prose to criticism. Most publications had one to two short stories published per issue, including contributions from Katherine Mansfield, D.H. Lawrence, Dylan Thomas and George Orwell.

In the periodical correspondence, Lawrence Hyde claimed that “the aim to which the Adelphi is addressing itself need not be characterized in these pages. In essence it is the exploration of the possibilities of a new mode of consciousness in which the head shall be organically co-ordinated with the heart” (2.4.275). He described the contributions of the periodical to be an “invaluable service” to modernist literature in demonstrating the “proper integration of the passional and the intellectual faculties of the soul” (2.4.280).

The editor’s envisioned that the Adelphi would become a sort of forum for the exchange of views among those who were sincerely grappling [with subjects such as] the problem of modern religion” (2.4.282).