Reactions to Adamic's Work in the American and Slovenian Press between 1931 and 1934

The article presents the reactions of American and Slovenian daily, weekly and monthly periodicals to Adamic’s first three books, published in the USA between 1931 and 1934. Both positive and negative responses are discussed. All relevant sources are employed: Adamic's books, memoires, and correspondence, and academic articles on Adamic's writing. The author compares readers' responses to relevant findings and historical facts as well as archival material. The article presents Adamic's gradual progress from his initial writings to his later years when he became a well-known authority on immigrant issues.
KEY WORDS: Louis Adamic, immigration topics, reviews, press, emigration

The author describes the analyses of Louis Adamic’s writings in the Slovenian press and in the Slovenian immigrant press in the USA in the period from 1931 to 1934. Adamic initially intended to write fiction, but upon publishing his first book on the workers’ movement, trade unions and the general developments of society, entitled Dynamite, he gained enough recognition to gradually dedicate himself to other areas of writing. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for his autobiography Laughing in the Jungle, which allowed him to travel to Yugoslavia in 1932. This journey provided him with precious material for his new book The Native’s Return, which brought him significant recognition in the USA. The article deals with positive and negative reactions to Adamic’s three major books at the time of their publication between 1931 and 1934. The author explores the developments of the topics found in the respective publications, dealing with immigrant, political and social issues. He also touches upon Adamic’s response to King Alexander’s assassination in 1934. Adamic’s The Native’s Return cemented his reputation as an expert on the politics and immigrant issues in the Balkans, which he was able to put to good use during his later years of activism in this field.