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The Geography of Freedom: The Odyssey of Élisee Reclus
"Fleming has contributed to our understanding of 19th century anarchist theory." American Political Science Review "A solid addition to anarchist scholarship."-- Choice ¶"A good argument for the idea that anarchism of the last century was a remarkably stimulating haven."-- American Historical Review ¶"We have long needed a biography on this prominent geographer and anarchist."--George Woodcock
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1988
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February 3, 2026
Maria Fleming’s The Geography of Freedom is an earnest and often illuminating intellectual biography of Élisée Reclus.
For readers unfamiliar with Reclus, the narrative is accessible and well structured, situating him within the political upheavals of the nineteenth century without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.
However, the book is less satisfying for readers seeking depth. Although there is some complex analysis, it is too focused on Reclus’s ideology of anarchism. Fleming tends to summarize rather than critically interrogate Reclus’s major works, particularly Nouvelle Géographie Universelle and L’Homme et la Terre. Key theoretical tensions—between science and moral idealism, or between anarchism and geography as an institutional discipline—are often smoothed over rather than explored.
Although Fleming writes in a clear and readable manner, the style is rather dry and predictable. The prose rarely rises above summary, which makes long sections feel monotonous despite the richness of the subject matter.
This book will definitely be more interesting to those who want to get to know Reclus as an anarchist rather than as a geographer. Fleming relies heavily on Reclus’s political writings and far less on his ambitious geographical work. In that context this book is best suited to readers interested in anarchist thought or intellectual biography, rather than those looking for a detailed engagement with the history of geography.
For readers unfamiliar with Reclus, the narrative is accessible and well structured, situating him within the political upheavals of the nineteenth century without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.
However, the book is less satisfying for readers seeking depth. Although there is some complex analysis, it is too focused on Reclus’s ideology of anarchism. Fleming tends to summarize rather than critically interrogate Reclus’s major works, particularly Nouvelle Géographie Universelle and L’Homme et la Terre. Key theoretical tensions—between science and moral idealism, or between anarchism and geography as an institutional discipline—are often smoothed over rather than explored.
Although Fleming writes in a clear and readable manner, the style is rather dry and predictable. The prose rarely rises above summary, which makes long sections feel monotonous despite the richness of the subject matter.
This book will definitely be more interesting to those who want to get to know Reclus as an anarchist rather than as a geographer. Fleming relies heavily on Reclus’s political writings and far less on his ambitious geographical work. In that context this book is best suited to readers interested in anarchist thought or intellectual biography, rather than those looking for a detailed engagement with the history of geography.
Displaying 1 of 1 review