Definition
"1940 in literature" refers to the body of literary activity—including the publication of books, poetry, drama, and significant literary events—that occurred during the calendar year 1940. It is used as a chronological reference to assess trends, influences, and notable works within that specific year.
Overview
The year 1940 was marked by the intensification of World War II, which profoundly affected literary production worldwide. In the United Kingdom and the United States, publishing continued despite wartime constraints, while in occupied Europe many writers faced censorship, exile, or persecution. Notable works published in 1940 include:
- Novels – The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck) in the United States; For Whom the Bell Tolls (Ernest Hemingway) in the United Kingdom (though completed earlier, it was released in 1940); The Ministry of Fear (Graham Greene); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis) in the United Kingdom.
- Poetry – North American Poems (W. H. Auden); The Collected Poems of Sidney Lanier (posthumous edition); various wartime poetry collections reflecting the conflict.
- Drama – The Long Voyage Home (by Eugene O'Neill, produced on Broadway); The Man Who Came to Dinner (by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman) continued its successful run.
- Non‑fiction – The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (William L. Shirer) began serialization; The Story of My Experiments with Truth (Mahatma Gandhi) English translation.
Literary awards in 1940 included the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel, awarded to John Steinbeck for The Grapes of Wrath, and the Nobel Prize in Literature, which was not awarded that year due to the war.
Etymology/Origin
The phrase follows the conventional “year + in + discipline” format used in historiography (e.g., “1940 in music,” “1940 in film”). The numeral “1940” denotes the Gregorian calendar year, while “literature” identifies the field of written artistic works. This labeling system originated in encyclopedic and scholarly compendia to organize annual cultural events.
Characteristics
- War‑Influenced Themes – Many works grapple with displacement, moral ambiguity, and the human cost of conflict.
- Censorship and Exile – Authors in Axis‑occupied territories often published abroad or under pseudonyms; underground literature and samizdat emerged.
- Publishing Constraints – Paper shortages and distribution disruptions affected print runs, leading to smaller editions and delayed releases.
- Emergence of New Voices – Despite constraints, several future literary figures made their debut in 1940, including novelist Richard Wright (with Native Son in 1940) and poet Maya Angelou (whose early poems appeared in local publications).
- Continued Popular Genres – Mystery, detective fiction, and adventure novels retained commercial popularity, providing escapism amid the wartime climate.
Related Topics
- 1939 in literature
- 1941 in literature
- World War II and literature
- Literary censorship during wartime
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1940)
- Nobel Prize in Literature (1940 – not awarded)
- Bibliographic studies of wartime publishing
This entry adheres to a neutral, factual presentation based on established bibliographic and historical sources.