I Couldn't Paint Golden Angels

by Albert Meltzer

Albert Meltzer (1920–1996) was involved actively in class struggles since the age of 15; exceptional for his generation in having been a convinced anarchist from the start, without any family background in such activity. A lively, witty account of sixty years in anarchist activism, and a unique recounting of many struggles otherwise distorted or unrecorded, including the history of the contemporary development of anarchism in Britain and other countries where he was involved, notably Spain. His story tells of many struggles, including for the first time, the Anglo-Spanish cooperation in the postwar anti-Franco resistance and provides interesting sidelights on, amongst others, the printers' and miners' strikes, fighting Blackshirts and the battle of Cable Street, the so-called Angry Brigade activities, the Anarchist Black Cross, the Cairo Mutiny and wartime German anti-Nazi resistance, the New Left of the 60s, the rise of squatting—and through individuals as varied as Kenyata, Emma Goldman, George Orwell, Guy Aldred, and Frank Ridley—all of which have crowded out not only his story, but his life too.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Autobiography

386 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Albert Meltzer, described by Emma Goldman as a "hooligan and rascal who knows nothing of anarchism and syndicalism" was actively involved in the class struggle for 60 years of his life. He is the author of numerous works on anarchism and its practice, and his autobiography, I Couldn't Paint Golden Angels: Sixty Years Of Commonplace LIfe and Anarchist Agitation, was published before he died.

Reviews

[J M-B · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author was a long time campaigner on behalf of anarchist political prisoners who conformed to his own, quite narrow, views on Direct Action. The campaign skills he gained were much in demand among those idealistic young people who had the misfortune to stray into his orbit and, a surprisingly high proportion of whom, themselves ended up in prison having been implicated, one way or another, in the attentats that Meltzer 'merely' applauded. As well as campaigning on behalf of Spanish anarchists, in the early 1970s Meltzer served as main cheerleader for the Angry Brigade (see pp. 235-45). Despite acknowledging that the anarchist movement in Britain had no political base within the working class, Meltzer endorsed the Angry Brigade bombings (calling the targets "spot on") while at all times reserving his not inconsiderable venom for "vanguardists". Many on the far left condemned the Angry Brigade in terms not dissimilar to the bourgeois press, but others saw the groups action of the very isolation of revolutionaries from the working class. Meltzer did nothing to overcome that isolation, indeed, through his ingrained sectarianism he successfully isolated himself from all but his own cult of personality. Revealingly, the book discloses that when he trotted off to international anarchist conferences, he skipped the speeches to mix with old comrades which says a great deal about his substitution of conspiracy for politics. The only real surprise in this sloppily written book (there is no sign of any editorial effort to correct the text) is that Meltzer was an adherent of the ideas of Velikovsky. Charlatans together.

[Mel Stead]

Review from the March 1996 issue of the Socialist Standard:

https://socialiststandardmyspace.blog...

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that has been on my 'to-read' list for what seems like years and I've only recently picked this up. This is the autobiography of Albert Meltzer and his years of activism. Since Meltzer's anarchist activism commenced in his teens in the 30's through to his death in 1996 the book is as much a story of British Anarchism in the 20th Century.

Meltzer was uncompromising in his beliefs throughout this life although reading this he certainly also appeared sectarian (and proud of it!) in consideration to pacifists and Trotskyists. His experience with supporting the anarchists in the Spanish Civil War was first hand and support for the Anarchist Resistance against Franco was consistent throughout his life. Meltzer was a man who had integrity and conviction and I’m certain I would have enjoyed having a conversation with him.

The early chapters featuring the ‘ordinary’ activism of his family before he was born were really interesting and I find stories like this of human decency quite touching. It is clear that what was plain good sense, good manners and kindness would be considered ‘left wing’ today. Such is the narrative of the media and establishment today that notions of solidarity and supporting people for the common good are considered dangerous and ‘out there’.

As discussed earlier matters in Spain are consistent throughout the book. I feel quite privileged to have read a book by someone who was supporting the anarchists during the Civil War yet was writing in the late 90’s. It seems somewhat unbelievable now that an anarchist society was in place in parts of Spain for a period and that it worked prior to its betrayal by the Communists. What I’ve never appreciated is just how monstrous Franco’s reign was and also how the Resistance against him continued throughout the Second World War up until Franco’s death in 1975. It was quite touching when friends of his were released in the 70’s, often quite old men who moved to Britain to carry on the struggle. There is a sense that agitation reduces as one gets older as I can identify with (somewhat to one’s shame) although I have maximum respect for those who don’t co-opt or become armchair activists.

The Second World War is an interesting period for Meltzer in that although he has no desire to fight a war either against Hitler or for Churchill he does wish to enlist in order to agitate and organise with his fellow soldiers. Neither did Meltzer identify with Pacifists. It’s remarkable as the State clearly didn’t want him to enlist yet neither did they want him to work. It ends in a ludicrous situation where he is arrested for not joining up despite never receiving his calling up papers. Even so, he ends up in a Regiment which sees little action is considered a ‘dumping ground’ for various undesirables.

Meltzer’s support for Spanish prisoners led to him forming the Anarchist Black Cross in the UK to support political prisoners. I have read an alternative perspective of how the ABC was formed and I am not the person to question any version of the truth. I think it is clear though that the organisation didn’t exist in the UK until he and Stuart Christie formed it. Prisoner support has always been an important part of class struggle for me and always will be and ABC has been a relevant and valuable part of prisoner support throughout the decades.

Meltzer discusses his years of activism within the print industry and was still working during the years of the Wapping Strike. It’s quite nice that as he comes up to retirement a few things click into place for him and although I doubt he would identify with mysticism there does feel like there is some good karma doing the rounds.

Meltzer was always associated with Black Flag – it was a magazine I always looked forward to and was a quality read. The history of the publication (and the attention it attached is covered fully).

I don’t have any real criticisms of the book other than it’s probably not appropriate for readers unfamiliar with anarchism, the underlying concepts are kind of assumed and whilst a reader could probably still have value from the book, decoding Meltzer’s beliefs may take some time. The book is also quite difficult to follow and would have benefitted from an editor - the text is quite clunky at times and one has to re-read sections at times to follow what is going on.

Still, any book which has ‘historical figures’ like Emma Goldman arguing with the author whilst being rooted very much in modern history is worth reading.

[Emong (emilio) Wi (yacat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Personally, I want to die in dignity but my passing celebrated jollity. I've told my executors that I want a stand up comedian in the pulpit telling amusing anecdotes, and the coffin to slide into the incinerator to the sound of Marlene Dietrich. If the booze up can begin right away, so much the better, and with a bit of luck the crematorium will never be gloomy again. Anyone mourning should be denounced as the representative of a credit card company and thrown out on their ear. Snowballs if in season (tomatoes if not) can be thrown at anyone uttering even worthy cliches like "the struggle goes on" and should anyone be prepared to dodge pieces of concrete confrontation.
If I have miscalculated, as a worthy clerical friend assures me I have, and there really is a God, I'd like to feel if he's got any sense of humor or feeling for humanity there's nobody he would sooner have in heaven than people like me, and if he hasn't, who wants in?" -- Pg.387

... Ha Ha Ha ...How can you not like this guy.

[Mitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew Albert and the book reads like he spoke. It's a tough read, but filled with information.