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Revolution
First English translation of one of the earliest attempts at compiling a complete theoretical ideal of anarchist communism. Carlos Cafiero (1846-1892) was an important figure of the First International, an ally of Mikhail Bakunin and influential on the early Italian socialist movement.
- GenresPolitics
88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 6, 2018
Most English speakers will be hardly exposed to the nineteenth century anarchist, Carlo Cafiero. This book, published by Black Cat Press in Edmonton Alberta in 2012, is still the most complete collection of his work translated into English. This is a shame, since what we have here is one of the earliest known works of clear anarchist-communist theory ever written, most of it originally published in Italian and French in the 1880s.
Most of this book is translated from a series of articles originally published in a radical French newspaper in the nineteenth century. Cafiero was a propagandist for Bakunin and other important anarchists of his time, once he had been recruited by them away from Marx, who had originally hired him to try to disrupt the anarchocommunist movement.
Most of the book deals with the inevitability of social change, of revolution. Cafiero argues that it is moral for humanity to usher in each new stage of humanity, as we continue to progress toward a social organization of our species that is most free and equal. He uses our past steps toward freedom and equality to predict our future. It is very hopeful.
For being such an old work, the degree to which it still resonates today is remarkable. It is not a perfect book. It must be taken in its context. However, that is exactly all it claims to be. As such, it is a worthy effort by this translator and publication to bring it back and to a new audience.
I recommend every interested reader request their library purchase a copy of this unique and important work, or order one of the few dozen still available at Black Cat Press.
☠
Perfect Bound Trade Paperback
Black Cat Press, Edmonton, 2012
Translated by Nestor Mcnab
Four Stars
December 24, 2017 - January 1, 2018
☠
Most of this book is translated from a series of articles originally published in a radical French newspaper in the nineteenth century. Cafiero was a propagandist for Bakunin and other important anarchists of his time, once he had been recruited by them away from Marx, who had originally hired him to try to disrupt the anarchocommunist movement.
Most of the book deals with the inevitability of social change, of revolution. Cafiero argues that it is moral for humanity to usher in each new stage of humanity, as we continue to progress toward a social organization of our species that is most free and equal. He uses our past steps toward freedom and equality to predict our future. It is very hopeful.
For being such an old work, the degree to which it still resonates today is remarkable. It is not a perfect book. It must be taken in its context. However, that is exactly all it claims to be. As such, it is a worthy effort by this translator and publication to bring it back and to a new audience.
I recommend every interested reader request their library purchase a copy of this unique and important work, or order one of the few dozen still available at Black Cat Press.
☠
Perfect Bound Trade Paperback
Black Cat Press, Edmonton, 2012
Translated by Nestor Mcnab
Four Stars
December 24, 2017 - January 1, 2018
☠
Displaying 1 of 1 review