Educated at Marietta College, Ohio, Williams edited the college newspaper and was active in union organizing. Following in his father's ministerial footsteps, he then attended Hartford Theological Seminary where he graduated in 1907. He studied under a fellowship at Cambridge University and the University of Marburg until the end of 1908. He then practiced as a minister in East Boston until 1914. He went to Europe at the outbreak of war and became a reporter for Outlook magazine. While in Belgium, he was arrested by the Germans, suspected of spying and was detained briefly. In 1917, he published In the Claws of the German Eagle which detailed an account of his detention and other war experiences. Later that year, he went to Russia as correspondent for the New York Post and was subsequently joined by John Reed. Together they witnessed first-hand the October Revolution. Williams worked for Trotsky in composing propaganda aimed at the Germans and met and was befriended by Lenin. He traveled widely in Russia and was arrested by the White army on a number of occasions. He escaped by ship and returned to America in 1918. He became a fervent Communist and lectured throughout America over the next four years. He continued his relationship with John Reed and published his book Through the Russian Revolution in 1919 while staying at Reed's house. He returned to Russia in 1922 and stayed until 1928. On his return to America, he contributed articles to many leading magazines such as Atlantic Monthly, and New Republic. He returned to the Soviet Union in 1930, but was dismayed by the changes brought about by Stalin. During the war, he was supportive of the Russian efforts and, in 1943, published The Russians: the Land, the People and Why They Fight. In the late 1950's he again returned to Russia and was treated there for leukaemia, the disease that would eventually claim his life. His other works include Lenin, the Man and His Work (1919), Russia and Siberia (1919) and Journey Into Revolution (1969 Posthumous). |
Chrysoma Associates Limited
