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The Women Incendiaries
The Women Incendiaries tells the inspirational story of women who played a leading role in the Paris Commune, one of history’s greatest moments of social upheaval. This is the first paperback edition of this vital, remarkable book.
Edith Thomas was a French writer whose books include a biography of Paris Commune leader Louise Michel.
Edith Thomas was a French writer whose books include a biography of Paris Commune leader Louise Michel.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 29, 2016
The previous books I've read that have been solely or partially about the Paris Commune of 1871 consistently failed to explain the major role taken by women. 'The Women Incendiaries' (in French, 'Les Pétroleuses') attempts to redress that balance. I found it a moving and powerful piece of scholarship. It explains the tragedy and slaughter as the Commune fell, whilst explaining the way that women were specifically scapegoated for alleged pyromania and their aspirations to equality.
The rights of women, to divorce, to work, to education, to equality in the eyes of the law, were all debated during the Paris Commune. This book explains how these debates played out. You get a real feeling for the mingled frustration and sense of opportunity women felt during this revolutionary time. The Commune tried to implement universal, secular, free education for all children, a policy very much driven by women's organisations and political clubs. Conversely, Thomas comments that some national guards refused help from women, despite desperate shortages of personnel. Even at a time of insurrection, some clung stubbornly to conservative ideas of a woman's role.
In the final chapters, Thomas discusses the fate of the female revolutionaries who survived the Commune. Despite the resurgent conservative establishment claiming that women were intellectually and physically inferior, the military courts seemed to have no problem accusing them of unlikely crimes. Those women found guilty were received heavy sentences, mainly hard labour and/or deportation. Indeed, Victor Hugo wrote a sharp critique of the treatment of Communards and personally intervened on behalf of one of the 'pétroleuses'.
I found this book totally compulsive. Although I love accounts of revolutionary times (especially in France), they often read as a list of male names. So often women's role in history is virtually ignored. It was fantastic to read a tribute to the bravery and spirit of female revolutionaries, who debated, fought, and died for rights that women like me now take for granted. I think Edith Thomas definitely struck the right note.
The rights of women, to divorce, to work, to education, to equality in the eyes of the law, were all debated during the Paris Commune. This book explains how these debates played out. You get a real feeling for the mingled frustration and sense of opportunity women felt during this revolutionary time. The Commune tried to implement universal, secular, free education for all children, a policy very much driven by women's organisations and political clubs. Conversely, Thomas comments that some national guards refused help from women, despite desperate shortages of personnel. Even at a time of insurrection, some clung stubbornly to conservative ideas of a woman's role.
In the final chapters, Thomas discusses the fate of the female revolutionaries who survived the Commune. Despite the resurgent conservative establishment claiming that women were intellectually and physically inferior, the military courts seemed to have no problem accusing them of unlikely crimes. Those women found guilty were received heavy sentences, mainly hard labour and/or deportation. Indeed, Victor Hugo wrote a sharp critique of the treatment of Communards and personally intervened on behalf of one of the 'pétroleuses'.
I found this book totally compulsive. Although I love accounts of revolutionary times (especially in France), they often read as a list of male names. So often women's role in history is virtually ignored. It was fantastic to read a tribute to the bravery and spirit of female revolutionaries, who debated, fought, and died for rights that women like me now take for granted. I think Edith Thomas definitely struck the right note.
March 9, 2017
I have been reading books on Marxist feminism lately and some authors repeatedly referenced The Women Incendiaries (Heather Brown in Marx on Gender and the Family; Raya Dunayevskaya in Women's Liberation and the Dialectics of Revolution and her Rosa Luxemburg book). The Women Incendiaries tells the story of the women who played a leading role in the Paris Commune, one of history’s greatest moments of social upheaval. I'm so glad that I followed-up on that reference because this is one of the best books of women's history and history of social revolutions that I've read. These women demanded participation within the leadership of the uprising and the defense of the Commune. They were selfless and fearless, fighting right along side the men. Many of the female revolutionaries of the time rightly believed that women's rights were an inextricable part of worker's rights, and you could not have one without the other. With this conviction in mind, they took a large part in organizing and fighting within revolutionary organizations. Edith Thomas crafted a stirring tribute to the bravery and spirit of these female revolutionaries, who debated, fought, and died for their rights and social equality for all. And it's an entertaining read unencumbered by heavy academic prose. Highly recommended!
January 29, 2022
"Et l'on peut se demander par quelle injustice de l'Histoire, une femme qui a laissé des romans plus qu'estimables et qui a joué dans la Commune un rôle important, n'a trouvé nulle part la place qui lui revient de droit." (Edith Thomas à propos d'André Léo)
En effet, que reste-t-il de toutes ces femmes qui se sont battues, plus ou moins, pour leurs idées, pour leurs convictions ? L'histoire et le temps passent et effacent ce qu'ont pu être, ce qu'ont pu entreprendre ces femmes. Ce qu'on peut retenir de ce travail de titan, qu'a constitué Edith Thomas, c'est le vide historiographique que constitue l'histoire des femmes en tant que telle.
En effet, que reste-t-il de toutes ces femmes qui se sont battues, plus ou moins, pour leurs idées, pour leurs convictions ? L'histoire et le temps passent et effacent ce qu'ont pu être, ce qu'ont pu entreprendre ces femmes. Ce qu'on peut retenir de ce travail de titan, qu'a constitué Edith Thomas, c'est le vide historiographique que constitue l'histoire des femmes en tant que telle.
September 17, 2022
So many bits and pieces of this book are things that could be written about today, from the author's jabs at many male historians for overlooking the roles of women within movements or considering feminism as unnecessary to some of the quotes taken from the women of the Commune and their frustrations within activism and movement spaces.
It's not surprising, but it is frustrating.
Overwhelmingly, this was a good read. It focused on a history that, even among anarchists, is rarely focused on (the Paris Commune and Louise Michel may be used frequently as a symbol, but it is rarely talked about what actually happened -- the events are glossed over). But it's intriguing because it incorporates a range of nuance for the many different women it sheds light on.
It's not surprising, but it is frustrating.
Overwhelmingly, this was a good read. It focused on a history that, even among anarchists, is rarely focused on (the Paris Commune and Louise Michel may be used frequently as a symbol, but it is rarely talked about what actually happened -- the events are glossed over). But it's intriguing because it incorporates a range of nuance for the many different women it sheds light on.
December 10, 2020
Un livre très illuminant sur le sujet.
Je trouve que les livres sur le féminisme français ont la tendance d'ignorer l'aspect des pétroleuses ou ne font que le mentionner. Les renseignement et les informations dans ce livre sont tellement bien transmit! J'ai beaucoup aimé.
Le passage sur l'éducation a vraiment montré la participation de ces femmes fût plus qu'admirable et indispensable dans ce domaine.
Je trouve que les livres sur le féminisme français ont la tendance d'ignorer l'aspect des pétroleuses ou ne font que le mentionner. Les renseignement et les informations dans ce livre sont tellement bien transmit! J'ai beaucoup aimé.
Le passage sur l'éducation a vraiment montré la participation de ces femmes fût plus qu'admirable et indispensable dans ce domaine.
January 1, 2022
Un essai historique porté par une plume fluide, une recherche tenace et un propos réhabilitant le rôle politique de la femme, au dela des limites de la Commune et de la France.
January 20, 2022
C’était super accessible, intéressant et inspirant. Je suis ravie d’avoir pu lire ce livre et de découvrir la Commune via ces portraits de femmes et actions menées par des femmes.
February 9, 2022
An interesting read about a not-so-known part of French history : the "Commune de Paris"; or Parisian 1871 revolution.
All those women, who are barely known (even Louise Michel is a character they don't talk about at French school - wtf?!?)- and still took a large part in French history.
I loved this approach : who are these women who made this revolution? Why were they considered as these crazy ugly women who just wanted to destroy everything?
And the answer is simple : they were just human beings who were suffering twice more than their male counterparts, and had twice more reasons to want to change the world they were living in. Their names should be celebrate, or at least acknowledged.
Thanks to Edith Thomas, and especially Chloé Leprince, who took the time and energy to put forward this ery underestimated non fiction masterpiece!
All those women, who are barely known (even Louise Michel is a character they don't talk about at French school - wtf?!?)- and still took a large part in French history.
I loved this approach : who are these women who made this revolution? Why were they considered as these crazy ugly women who just wanted to destroy everything?
And the answer is simple : they were just human beings who were suffering twice more than their male counterparts, and had twice more reasons to want to change the world they were living in. Their names should be celebrate, or at least acknowledged.
Thanks to Edith Thomas, and especially Chloé Leprince, who took the time and energy to put forward this ery underestimated non fiction masterpiece!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews