rd Sternlicht, in his novel Stephen Spender, when “the modernists envisioned a spiritual technology, they failed to make their revolution, and communism failed them. Spender abandoned the cause, drifted to the right, and recoiled into himself” (Sternlicht P.127). This was a critical point in Stephen Spender life, which altered his viewpoints, flexing between his extreme and moderate liberalism. “He searched for a rational system of belief. He wanted to understand existence, to deny the death wish in the world and in himself, and to find harmony” (Sternlicht P.128). Stephen Spender was attempting to define his ideals within the liberal spectrum of politics. His struggle to understand his own beliefs was the source of his journals and essays, which also proves his changing ideals. Spender himself stated, “I think the essays in the first section of this book illustrates both my convictions and hesitations. The essay in which I announce my joining the Communists Party is rather abject and I am thoroughly ashamed of it. I persuaded myself to print it here Kennedy 5against my strong wish not even to reread it- far less publish it- on the grounds that if I am to offer the first part of this book as a showcase of my particular thirties exhibits, I must put in the more embarrassing one” (Spender P.27). In this quote Stephen Spender was again addressing the changes in his political views. Although his view points have changed, Spender continues to write about the ideals which should be part of the liberal mind. Stephen Spender’s writings has influenced many people during the twentieth century. One of his most noted protg’s was, Jimmy Younger. It is also important to note; Stephen Spender was also influenced by many political authors of history. According to Sternlicht, much of Stephen Spender’s works were influenced by Walpole and Woolf. Spender, himself ...
