Modern Review (North American)

The Modern Review was a socialist literary and political magazine published in New York City from 1916 to 1918. It emerged from the earlier The Masses following the latter's suppression by the US government due to its anti-war stance during World War I. While many of the same contributors and editors were involved, the Modern Review attempted to be less overtly political and more focused on artistic and literary expression.

Contributors to the Modern Review included prominent figures in the American literary and socialist scenes, such as Sherwood Anderson, Van Wyck Brooks, Floyd Dell, Waldo Frank, Max Eastman, Amy Lowell, and Ezra Pound. The magazine featured essays, poetry, short stories, and artwork that often explored themes of social justice, individual freedom, and the changing landscape of American society.

Despite its efforts to avoid direct confrontation with the government, the Modern Review also faced censorship and financial difficulties due to its association with radical politics and its continued opposition to the war. Ultimately, the magazine ceased publication in 1918 due to these pressures and internal disagreements among its editors. Its short run nonetheless positioned it as an important voice in the early 20th-century American intellectual landscape, bridging the gap between radical politics and modernist aesthetics.