The Noble Savage (magazine)

The Noble Savage was a short-lived but influential American literary magazine published in 1960 and 1961. Founded by Saul Bellow, who also served as its editor, and Keith Botsford, the magazine aimed to provide a platform for experimental, non-conformist writing that challenged the prevailing trends in American literature.

Published bi-annually, The Noble Savage featured essays, short stories, and excerpts from novels. Notable contributors included Isaac Rosenfeld, Ralph Ellison, John Berryman, and Bellow himself. The magazine was known for its eclectic mix of highbrow literary criticism, philosophical explorations, and raw, often controversial fiction. It deliberately avoided popular taste and sought to publish work that was ambitious, intellectually stimulating, and aesthetically challenging.

Despite its relatively brief run of five issues, The Noble Savage gained a reputation for its intellectual rigor and its commitment to publishing innovative and unconventional voices. While not a commercial success, it is remembered today as a significant contribution to the American literary landscape of the early 1960s, reflecting a period of intellectual ferment and a growing desire for artistic freedom. The title itself was likely intended as ironic, a nod to and critique of the romanticized view of uncivilized peoples often found in literature and philosophy.