Seafarer Socialism: Pound, The New Age, and Anglo-Medieval Radicalism
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2006
Publication Title
Journal of Modern Literature
First Page
1
Last Page
21
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/jml.2006.0044
Abstract
Too often regarded as merely an experiment in language, an effort to bring the harsh alliterative resources of Anglo-Saxon prosody into modern English poetry, Ezra Pound's "The Seafarer" is a far more ideologically complex text than modernist scholars have assumed. When examined in conjunction with medievalist commentary and political reflections written by Pound for the English socialist magazine The New Age between 1911 and 1914, this celebrated Anglo-Saxon translation reveals itself to be not only deeply political but surprisingly socialist in its sympathies. By publishing "The Seafarer" and other writings in this radical publication, Pound affirmed his solidarity with striking English laborers, particularly what was understood to be their patriotic efforts to recover ancient Saxon liberties. He also gave provisional support to an Anglo-medievalist variant of socialism known as guild socialism, thereby establishing that his pre-war politics were more progressive and left-leaning than previously acknowledged.
Rights
Version of record can be found through Indiana University Press.
Recommended Citation
Garver, Lee, "Seafarer Socialism: Pound, The New Age, and Anglo-Medieval Radicalism" Journal of Modern Literature / (2006): 1-21.
Available at https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/facsch_papers/767