Steyning and Summerhill, 1924–1928

After Cambridge, Morton became a teacher at a grammar schoolMorton, Arthur Lesliechildhood (grammar school) in Steyning, Sussex. He was unhappy in conservative Steyning but there were outlets. He started readingMorton, Arthur Lesliereading interests as a teenager the Communist press and met the bohemian poet and publisher Victor Neuburg (aka “Vickybird,”Neuburg, Victor (aka Vickybird or Vicky) former disciple of the occultist Aleister CrowleyCrowley, Aleister). Neuburg’s home became a hub for the few people with any left-of-centre views. Morton discussed William BlakeBlake, William and English radical history with Neuburg and began publishing historical materialist understandings of the history of magicMagic. The two became lifelong friends and the relationship was an early example of Morton being able to interact critically with people of different ideological persuasions. Around this time, Morton also started publishing works of literary criticism, including a defence of EliotEliot, T.S. and his vision of Europe, which led to a friendly but professional relationship between the two as Morton undertook reviews for EliotEliot, T.S.’s The Criterion. Morton supported the General StrikeMorton, Arthur LeslieGeneral Strike (1926), support forGeneral Strike (1926) of 1926 which led to his redundancy in 1927. He moved back to SuffolkSuffolk and started working at A. S. NeillNeill, A.S.’s progressive Summerhill SchoolSummerhill School. The school attracted a small collection of Communist teachers, including Bronwen JonesJones, Bronwen who MortonMorton, Arthur Lesliemarriage to and relationship with Bronwen soon marriedMorton, BronwenJones, Bronwen and with whom he had a son.