author
John Middleton Murry
1889–1957
A restless and prolific English critic, editor, and essayist, he helped shape literary debates in the early 20th century. He is also widely remembered for his close connection to Katherine Mansfield and for a body of work that ranged across literature, politics, religion, and social thought.
1 Audiobook
Aspects of Literature
by John Middleton Murry
About the author
Born in Peckham, London, on August 6, 1889, he studied at Christ's Hospital and later at Brasenose College, Oxford. His literary career began early, and he became known as a lively editor and critic with a strong personal voice.
He founded the review Rhythm in 1911, later edited The Athenaeum, and in 1923 started The Adelphi. Across his career he produced more than 60 books along with a huge number of essays and reviews, writing not just about literature but also about politics, religion, and society.
Murry's life is often discussed alongside that of writer Katherine Mansfield, whom he married in 1918. Yet he was a major figure in his own right: a critic whose views could change sharply over time, but whose energy, honesty, and willingness to argue made him an important part of English literary life. He died in 1957.