Skip to main content
Eric Bentley: Populariser of the works of Bertholt Brecht and Hans Eisler in the West
FORTHRIGHT: Eric Bentley in 1965

ERIC BENTLEY, who died earlier this month at the age of 103, was a British-born American critic, playwright, singer, editor and translator.

An Oxford graduate, Bentley went on to study at Yale University and, after becoming an American citizen in 1948, lived for many years in New York.

In the 1950s Bentley taught at Columbia University and simultaneously was a theatre critic for The New Republic. Known for his blunt style of criticism, he incurred the wrath of playwrights Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, both of whom threatened to sue him for his unfavourable reviews of their work.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Victor Grossman with some of the works he published in the G
Features / 5 February 2026
5 February 2026

Hundreds in Berlin gathered on January 15 to honour the US-born socialist who made East Germany his home. Florentine Morales Sandoval reports

Dalton Trumbo at the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings in 1947. Photo: Public domain
Features / 1 December 2025
1 December 2025

The daughter of a legendary blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter has spoken out against the reactionary move, says MIKE SCHNEIDER

guthrie
Album Review / 14 August 2025
14 August 2025

TONY BURKE revels in the publication of previously unreleased tracks by the great US folksinger

Hans Hesse
Class / 28 July 2025
28 July 2025

Paul MacGee of Manifesto Press invites you to a special launch on Saturday August 2.