s/t: An Autobiography of Louis Fischer
Jewish-American journalist Fischer (2/29/1896–1/15/1970) wrote a contribution to The God that Failed, The Life of Lenin, which won a '65 Nat'l Book Award & The Life of Mahatma Gandhi, the basis for the Academy Award-winning film. His wife, Markoosha, was also a writer. A fish peddler's son, he was born in Philadelphia & studied at its School of Pedagogy from '14-16, becaming a teacher. In '17, he joined the Jewish Legion, a military unit based in Palestine. On returning to the USA, he took up work at a NY news agency. In '21, he went to Germany & contributed to the NY Evening Post. The next year, he moved to Moscow & in '23 began working for The Nation. While in the USSR, he published Oil Imperialism: The International Struggle for Petroleum ('26) & The Soviets in World Affairs ('30). He also covered the Spanish Civil War & was a member of the Intern'l Brigade fighting fascism. In '38, he returned to NYC. He continued with The Nation & wrote Men & Politics ('41). He left in '45 after a dispute with editor Freda Kirchway over the journal's reporting of Stalin. Tho never a CP member, his disillusionment with Communism was reflected in his contribution to The God That Failed ('49). He began writing for liberal magazines such as The Progressive. He taught about the USSR at Princeton until his death.