1917 in literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1917. Events January Francis Picabia produces the first issue of the Dada periodical 391 in Barcelona. Philosopher Hu Shih, the main advocate of replacing scholarly language with the vernacular in Chinese literature, publishes an article in the magazine New Youth (Xin Qingnian), "A Preliminary Discussion of Literature Reform", offering eight guidelines for writers. J. R. R. Tolkien, on medical leave from the British Army at Great Haywood, begins The Book of Lost Tales (the first version of The Silmarillion), starting with the "Fall of Gondolin". This first chronicles Tolkien's mythopoeic Middle-earth legendarium in prose. February 4 or 5 – The English writer Hugh Kingsmill is captured in action in France. February 16 – The publisher Boni & Liveright is founded in New York City by Horace Liveright with Albert Boni, and initiates the "Modern Library" imprint. April – Leonard and Virginia Woolf take delivery of a hand printing press needed to establish the Hogarth Press at their home in Richmond upon Thames. Their first publication is Two Stories. May – W. B. Yeats acquires Thoor Ballylee in Ireland. June 4 – The first Pulitzer Prizes are awarded: Laura E.