CLR James

Cyril Lionel Robert James (4 January 1901–19 May 1989) was a journalist, and a prominent socialist theorist and writer.

Return to Trinidad and final years

In 1952, James was deported from the US to England for having overstayed his visa by over ten years. Famously in his attempt to remain in the USA he wrote a study of Herman Melville and had copies of the privately published work sent to every member of the Senate. In 1958, he returned to Trinidad, where he edited The Nation newspaper for the pro-independence People's National Movement (PNM) party. He also became involved again in the Pan-African movement, believing that the Ghana revolution showed that Africa was the most important inspiration for international revolutionaries.

Related Topics:
1952 - Visa - Herman Melville - 1958 - Newspaper - People's National Movement - Pan-African - Ghana revolution

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James also advocated the West Indies Federation, and it was over this that he fell out with the PNM leadership. He returned to Britain, then to the US in 1968, where he taught at the University of the District of Columbia. Ultimately, he returned to Britain and spent his last years in Brixton, London.

Related Topics:
West Indies Federation - 1968 - University of the District of Columbia - Brixton

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His 1963 book, Beyond a Boundary, discussed the strong influence cricket had on his life, and how it meshed with his role in politics and his understanding of issues of class and race. It is considered by many to be a seminal work of cricket writing, and has gained the status of required reading by serious fans of the sport, being described by some as "the best book on sport ever written."

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