Selected Writings

by James Connolly, Peter Berresford Ellis (editor)

In 1916, James Connolly was executed by the British for his part in the Easter Rising. His early activism in the Scottish labor movement; his pioneering socialism in Ireland; his involvement in the American Labor movement; his activity as a union organizer back in Ireland; his revolutionary stand against WWI; & his ultimately fatal leadership of the 1916 uprising for Irish independence, all point to a crucial figure in the development of the workers' movement during one of its most intriguing phases. A tireless political worker & a prolific writer, Connolly's thinking on nationalism & imperialism had an influence on Lenin. He's regarded by many as one of the founders of 20th-century Irish nationalism. This book of his writings draws together some of his most representative work.

Genres: Politics, Ireland, Irish Literature, Philosophy

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 1973

About the author

James Connolly (Irish: Séamas Ó Conghaile) was an Irish socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of his day. Though proud of his Irish background, he also took a role in Scottish and American politics. He was executed by a British firing squad because of his leadership role in the Easter Rising of 1916.

Reviews

[Lisa Wynne]

James Connolly had such a specific vision for the potential of an independent Ireland which was simmering around the turn of the century - much of which was projected in the Proclamation Of The Republic. However, beyond the general sense of his socialism and a couple of famous quotations I hadn’t really engaged with it in depth. I was delighted to find (second hand) this compact paperback edition of Selected Writings with a very useful fifty-page introduction by Beresford Ellis, summarising his biography and placing his work in historical context. Connolly’s writing is organised into topical sections and covers an immense amount of social and economic ground. The collection weaves a rich tapestry of Connolly’s political and religious beliefs, and his staunch position on in the separation of church and state. His talking points are consistent and insistent, and his style of writing very engaging. We were lucky to have someone of his convictions, empathy, organising skills, and verbal ability in Ireland during the years of fomenting nationalism. He is the figure from the group of executed 1916 leaders about whom I mostly strongly wonder, what if he had been around for the foundation of the state?
Over and above the historical interest here, Connolly’s politics are largely still very relevant today, especially around democracy, class struggle, and the destructive nature of capitalism. Essential reading for anyone interested in The Left in Irish politics, historically or for the future.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Be moderate,' the trimmers cry,
Who dread the tyrants' thunder.
'You ask too much and people fly
From you aghast in wonder.'
'Tis passing strange, for I declare
Such statements give me mirth,
For our demands most moderate are,
We only want the earth.