Randall Swingler

Randall Swingler MM (May 28, 1909 – 1967) was an English poet, writing extensively in the 1930s in the communist interest.

His was a prosperous middle class Anglican family near Nottingham, with an industrial background in the Midlands. He was educated at Winchester College, and New College, Oxford. He was an accomplished flautist, and later was much involved in musical collaboration, as a librettist.

He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1934. His numerous ventures as a literary entrepreneur included: the setting up of Fore Publications (1938); the magazines Left Review (to 1938), Arena, Seven (taken over in wartime, mainly for ths paper stock), Our Time; and the publishing of the Key Books, and later Key Poets series. These proved more influential than his Blake-flavoured verse, which has consistently been criticised (and scarcely defended, except by Andy Croft).

He operated in North London, as a close associate of Nancy Cunard, sometimes lending his name. He was one of the organisers of the covert Writer's Group of the late 1930s, attempting to co-ordinate a 'literary policy' of the Left. He was involved also in work for the Unity Theatre.

He served with the British Army in Italy in World War II, joining as a private soldier, and being awarded the Military Medal. After the war he experienced hard times. He left the CPGB in 1956. He was a founder of E. P. Thompson's The New Reasoner (from 1957).

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