The Little Review, May, 1917 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

In this spirited opening issue, Ezra Pound takes the helm as foreign editor, laying out a bold vision for a magazine that could bring together the most daring contemporary voices. He champions the works of James Joyce, Wyndham Lewis, T. S. Eliot and his own poetry, insisting that they deserve regular, immediate publication rather than the stale delays of more conservative presses. Pound’s candid appraisal of the American literary establishment reveals his discontent with mediocrity and his belief that true art must be free from ritualistic constraints, whether religious or institutional. He also reflects on the wartime disruption of the Vorticist movement, noting the loss of key contributors and the temporary suspension of the avant‑garde journal Blast.

The editorial moves beyond personal grievance to a wider call for cooperation among modernist periodicals, especially The Egoist, whose recent achievements include groundbreaking translations and the serialization of Joyce’s early masterpiece. Pound’s unapologetic tone is balanced by genuine admiration for the magazine’s editor, celebrating her skill in navigating a niche market while emphasizing a shared commitment to innovative, clear‑spoken thought. Listeners will find an intimate glimpse into the restless energy that shaped early twentieth‑century literature.