Walter Duranty

Walter Duranty (1884–1957), born in Liverpool, England, UK won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for a set of stories he wrote in 1931 as The New York Times' Moscow correspondent, covering Joseph Stalin's Five-Year Plan to industrialize the Soviet Union. Duranty, who died in 1957 (having married on his deathbed), enjoyed a lavish lifestyle during his 12 years in Moscow, and is widely seen as an apologist for Joseph Stalin. He is the subject of a 1990 biography called "Stalin's Apologist?.

Related Topics:
1884 - 1957 - Liverpool - England, UK - Pulitzer Prize - 1932 - 1931 - The New York Times - Moscow - Joseph Stalin - Five-Year Plan - Soviet Union - 1990

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The New York Times hired a professor of Russian history to review Duranty's work. That professor, Mark Von Hagen of Columbia University, says Mr. Duranty's reports were unbalanced and uncritical, and they far too often gave voice to Stalinist propaganda.

Related Topics:
Mark Von Hagen - Columbia University - Stalinist - Propaganda

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In his New York Times articles, Duranty repeatedly denied the existence of the 1932 Ukrainian famine that is estimated to have killed between five million and 10 million Ukrainians, even though he knew of its existence, as testified to British intelligence. The long-unpublished memoirs of American engineer Zara Witkin also confirm that Duranty knew, and cynically misrepresented, the facts. Duranty also held that Stalin's show trials were just. Because of this, several organizations have called on the Pulitzer Board to revoke his prize, but no action has been taken.

Related Topics:
1932 - Ukrainian famine - British - Show trials - Pulitzer Board

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