Books: Writers' Congress

As orderly as a flock of well-shepherded sheep, 453 left-minded U. S. novelists, poets, critics and journalists met last fortnight in Manhattan. Brought together as the Third American Writers' Congress, they and an audience of more than 2,500 were addressed on opening night in Carnegie Hall by English Novelist Sylvia Townsend Warner ("The pen is not mightier than the sword, but it is as mighty"); by Exile Thomas Mann ("Fascism has overstepped its mark ... its decline is already determined."); by Eduard Benes, ex-President of Czecho-Slovakia ("a kind of United States of Europe...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!