William Phillips (editor)
Encyclopedia
William Phillips was an American editor, writer, and public intellectual, who co-founded the Partisan Review
. Together with co-editor Philip Rahv
, Phillips made the Partisan Review
into one of the foremost journals of politics, literature, and the arts, particularly from the 1930s through the 1950s. In all, Phillips headed up the publication for six decades. He was the last surviving member of the first generation of The New York Intellectuals
, which The Guardian
described as "that brilliant and cantankerous group who 'argued the world' for decades."
where he studied philosophy and came to admire the modernist movement in literature. He also took graduate literature courses at New York University
.
In 1933, he married Edna Greenblatt, who worked as a high school teacher. She died in 1985. In 1995, Phillips married Edith Kurzweil, who ultimately succeeded him as editor of the magazine.
, a group of artists and writers who were sympathetic to the international Communist movement. He rose to become the Club’s secretary. He and Rahv originally launched the Partisan Review
in 1934, with an investment of $800, as an official publication of the Club. In 1936, Phillips and Rahv had an ideological falling out with the Club, and publication was briefly suspended. They relaunched the journal in December 1937, and it soon evolved into a leading anti-Stalinist voice on the left.
Rahv was often credited with being the more expansive thinker; Phillips called him a "manic impressive." But Phillips is generally regarded as having provided the editorial quality, stamina, and consistency that kept the publication alive for so many years, despite its modest circulation (never more than 15,000). Phillips enlisted a distinguished staff that included Mary McCarthy
and Dwight Macdonald
.
In the 1950s, Lillian Hellman
complained that Phillips had not spearheaded the defense of intellectuals who were investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee. The magazine had, in fact, editorialized against Joseph McCarthy. But Phillips also criticized writers and artists on the left who had been slow to recognize the Stalinist oppression of free expression and political dissent in the Soviet Union.
By the 1960s, Rahv had scaled back his participation in the day-to-day work of editing the journal. However, when the board of directors opted to list Phllips as editor-in-chief, Rahv sued and won the right to continue to see all submissions. In 1969, Rahv resigned to start his own journal, and Phillips gained principal editorial control of the Partisan Review
, which he maintained until shortly before his death.
Partisan Review
Partisan Review was an American political and literary quarterly published from 1934 to 2003, though it suspended publication between October 1936 and December 1937.-Overview:...
. Together with co-editor Philip Rahv
Philip Rahv
Philip Rahv was an American literary critic and essayist.-Life:...
, Phillips made the Partisan Review
Partisan Review
Partisan Review was an American political and literary quarterly published from 1934 to 2003, though it suspended publication between October 1936 and December 1937.-Overview:...
into one of the foremost journals of politics, literature, and the arts, particularly from the 1930s through the 1950s. In all, Phillips headed up the publication for six decades. He was the last surviving member of the first generation of The New York Intellectuals
The New York Intellectuals
The New York Intellectuals were a group of Jewish American writers and literary critics based in New York City in the mid-20th century. They advocated left-wing politics but were also firmly anti-Stalinist...
, which The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described as "that brilliant and cantankerous group who 'argued the world' for decades."
Life
Phillips was born in New York City. His parents were Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine. Phillips earned a B.A. from City CollegeCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
where he studied philosophy and came to admire the modernist movement in literature. He also took graduate literature courses at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
In 1933, he married Edna Greenblatt, who worked as a high school teacher. She died in 1985. In 1995, Phillips married Edith Kurzweil, who ultimately succeeded him as editor of the magazine.
Editorship of The Partisan Review
As a young man, Phillips was a Marxist and a member of the John Reed ClubJohn Reed Club
The John Reed Club was an American, semi-national, Marxist club for writers, artists, and intellectuals, named after the American journalist, activist, and poet, John Reed.-Founding:...
, a group of artists and writers who were sympathetic to the international Communist movement. He rose to become the Club’s secretary. He and Rahv originally launched the Partisan Review
Partisan Review
Partisan Review was an American political and literary quarterly published from 1934 to 2003, though it suspended publication between October 1936 and December 1937.-Overview:...
in 1934, with an investment of $800, as an official publication of the Club. In 1936, Phillips and Rahv had an ideological falling out with the Club, and publication was briefly suspended. They relaunched the journal in December 1937, and it soon evolved into a leading anti-Stalinist voice on the left.
Rahv was often credited with being the more expansive thinker; Phillips called him a "manic impressive." But Phillips is generally regarded as having provided the editorial quality, stamina, and consistency that kept the publication alive for so many years, despite its modest circulation (never more than 15,000). Phillips enlisted a distinguished staff that included Mary McCarthy
Mary McCarthy (author)
Mary Therese McCarthy was an American author, critic and political activist.- Early life :Born in Seattle, Washington, to Roy Winfield McCarthy and his wife, the former Therese Preston, McCarthy was orphaned at the age of six when both her parents died in the great flu epidemic of 1918...
and Dwight Macdonald
Dwight Macdonald
Dwight Macdonald was an American writer, editor, film critic, social critic, philosopher, and political radical.-Early life and career:...
.
In the 1950s, Lillian Hellman
Lillian Hellman
Lillian Florence "Lily" Hellman was an American playwright, linked throughout her life with many left-wing causes...
complained that Phillips had not spearheaded the defense of intellectuals who were investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee. The magazine had, in fact, editorialized against Joseph McCarthy. But Phillips also criticized writers and artists on the left who had been slow to recognize the Stalinist oppression of free expression and political dissent in the Soviet Union.
By the 1960s, Rahv had scaled back his participation in the day-to-day work of editing the journal. However, when the board of directors opted to list Phllips as editor-in-chief, Rahv sued and won the right to continue to see all submissions. In 1969, Rahv resigned to start his own journal, and Phillips gained principal editorial control of the Partisan Review
Partisan Review
Partisan Review was an American political and literary quarterly published from 1934 to 2003, though it suspended publication between October 1936 and December 1937.-Overview:...
, which he maintained until shortly before his death.