Working Classics

A true classic of radical literature, in its first scholarly, annotated edition. Emma Goldman, the "notorious anarchist" deported from the United States in 1919 for "seditious activities," was a leading figure of American anarchism for almost thirty years. She continued to write and speak on anarchism for the rest of her life in exile, first in Soviet Russia and then in Europe-including Spain during the Spanish Revolution-and, finally, Canada. Goldman played a pivotal role in the development of anarchism in America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. This collection, first published in 1910 by her press, Mother Earth Publishing Association, illustrates her wide-reaching mind and ability to bring together strands of American and European individualism, anarchist communism, and early feminist thinking to develop a body of work that continues to influence the theory and practice of anarchism today. Essays include "Anarchism: What It Really Stands For," "The Psychology of Political Violence," "Prisons: A Social Crime and Failure," "The Hypocrisy of Puritanism," "The Tragedy of Woman's Emancipation," and "Marriage and Love," among others. A new introduction by Moran and Pateman situates Goldman's thinking in the movement of her day but also makes clear why her essays are still vital. Annotations throughout bring to light individuals and events that enrich our understanding of Goldman's writings. The Working Classics Series revives lineages of radical thought from the history of the anarchist movement.

A brilliant blueprint for a free society by one of anarchism's most famous theorists. The Conquest of Bread is Peter Kropotkin's most extensive study of human needs and his outline of the most rational and equitable means of satisfying them. The most important and widely read exposition of anarchist economic theory, its combination of detailed historical analysis and far-reaching utopian vision is a step-by-step guide to social revolution: the concrete means of achieving it and the new world that humanity is capable of creating. Writing in a way that he describes as "moderate in style, but revolutionary in substance," Kropotkin adeptly translates complex ideas into common language, while rendering the often-amorphous aspirations of social movements into coherent form. Includes an introduction that historically situates and discusses the contemporary relevance of Kropotkin's ideas. The Working Classics Series revives lineages of radical thought from the history of the anarchist movement.

A compelling work to be studied and applied to new conditions each generation. An exposition of anarchism by one of its greatest propagandists and clearest thinkers. In a conversational style, Berkman discusses society as it now exists, the need for anarchism, and the methods for bringing it about. His primary goal for writing the book was to dispel the misinformation concerning the aspirations of anarchists in the minds of average people. The secondary goal was to reexamine the movement after the Russian Revolution and to promote the fact that authoritarian methods cannot lead to liberty, indeed: methods and aims must be identical to ensure lasting equality and freedom.