A Long Way From Home.pdf - Site de Thomas - Free

xii • chronology
1917 In October, again under a pseudonym (“Eli Edwards,” adapted
from his mother’s name), publishes sonnets in Seven Arts.
1918 Meets Frank Harris, a patron and Irish American editor of Pearson’s
Magazine; in September, begins publishing poems in
the magazine.
1919 In the spring, Crystal Eastman and her brother, Max Eastman,
editors of the Liberator, invite McKay to the Liberator offices. In
its July issue, the Liberator publishes “If We Must Die” and
other poems. In the early fall, travels to London and begins
reading Karl Marx’s writings. Publishes poems and political
essays in the Workers’ Dreadnought, edited by women’s suffragist
and British Socialist Sylvia Pankhurst.
1920 From July to August, attends the Communist Unity Conference.
Publishes his third book of poetry, Spring in New Hampshire,
introduced by I. A. Richards.
1921 Early in the year, sails back to New York. In March, joins the
editorial staff of the Liberator. Seeks to publish American edition
of Spring in New Hampshire.
1922 Harcourt, Brace, and Company accepts manuscript of Spring in
New Hampshire, which becomes Harlem Shadows, his fourth
book of poetry, introduced by Max Eastman. In August, McKay
resigns from the editorial staff at the Liberator after persistent
tension with other editors, including Robert Minor and
Michael Gold. In September, McKay leaves New York for
Moscow, stopping off in Liverpool and Berlin. From November
to December attends the Fourth Congress of the Communist
International.
1923 Publishes a Marxist-informed book of African American history,
Negry v Amerike, reprinted as The Negroes in America,
edited by Alan L. McLeod and translated from the Russian by
Robert J. Winter (Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat, 1979). In the
spring, McKay leaves Moscow for May Day celebration in Petrograd,
then in May moves on to Hamburg, Berlin, and Paris.
Contracts syphilis, which debilitates and depresses him; contracts
influenza while posing nude in Paris studios.