Liberty Magazine from May 1938 - Beautiful Dipsomaniac and Oxford Group
Title: Liberty Magazine – May 28, 1938
Publisher: Macfadden Publications
Publication Date: May 28, 1938
Pages: Approx. 66
Condition: Good – cover shows light edge wear and small spine tears; interior pages display age toning but remain intact and legible. Please review photos for exact condition details.
Featured Article: “Beautiful Dipsomaniac”
This issue of Liberty features the striking confessional story “Beautiful Dipsomaniac,” a first-person narrative of a woman’s harrowing battle with alcoholism and her journey to sobriety. The piece chronicles her descent into destructive drinking, brushes with the law, and repeated relapses before finally finding redemption and strength through faith in God while in jail. It stands as a raw, powerful testimony of addiction and recovery, capturing the social and spiritual struggles of the late 1930s.
The issue also includes a notable reference to the Oxford Group in the “Vox Pop” section, where a letter titled “Oxford Group is Answer to Macfadden Editorial” praises the movement’s program as a potential solution to global chaos. This reference highlights the Oxford Group’s growing cultural significance and its influence on contemporary discussions of morality, spirituality, and reform.
Collector’s Significance
- Addiction & Recovery History: Rare period piece describing the human toll of alcoholism before AA’s widespread recognition.
- Oxford Group Connection: Direct reference to the Group’s program as an answer to civilization’s crises, reflecting ideas that helped shape Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Cultural Artifact: A vivid look at 1930s concerns about morality, social decay, and redemption.
- Condition: Well-preserved copy with age-typical wear, desirable for collectors of early addiction and Oxford Group material.
This issue captures both a deeply personal story of recovery and the era’s fascination with the Oxford Group’s promise of moral rearmament, making it an exceptional historical artifact for collectors.
