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Mar 16, 2006

Paul Avrich




"Every good person deep down is an anarchist."--Paul Avrich

I regret to say that Paul Avrich (8/4/1931-2/16/2006) died a month ago due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was, along with James J. Martin, one of the primary historians of anarchism of our day. He was precise, careful and sympathetic in his research, having become a confidant of numerous radicals during his lifetime. His many works on American and Russian anarchism are basic works which any student of these must study in order to fully understand them. As the anarchist Marianne Enckell said:
He was a trusted friend to many of the older members of our movement, putting them in touch with each other, following their reunions, visiting them regularly - and watching them depart from this life, one after another. Without him, much of what is remembered by the movement would be lost.

His principal works were:
The Russian anarchists. Princeton University Press, 1967; re-edition 1978 (Les Anarchistes russes; translated by Bernard Mocquot. Paris: Maspero, 1979; other translations in Japanese, Spanish and Italian).
Kronstadt, 1921. Princetown: Princetown University Press, 1970 (La Tragédie de Cronstadt, 19211; translated by Hervé Denès. Paris: Seuil, 1975; other translations in Spanish and Czech).
Russian Rebels, 1600-1800. New York: Schocken Books, 1972.
The Anarchists in the Russian Revolution. New York: Cornell University Press, 1973 (Gli anarchici nella rivoluzione russa; translated by Michele Buzzi. Milano: La Salamandra, 1976).
The history of the anarchist movement in the United States, published by Princeton University:

  • An American Anarchist: The Life of Voltairine de Cleyre, 1978.
  • The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, 1980.
  • The Haymarket Tragedy, 1984.
  • Anarchist Portraits, 1988.
  • Sacco and Vanzetti, The Anarchist Background, 1991.
  • Anarchist Voices: An Oral History of Anarchism in America, 1995.

Just a thought.
Just Ken
CLASSical Liberalism



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Common Sense - 3/18/2006

"Every good person deep down is an anarchist."--Paul Avrich

In other words, only anarchists can be good people. What an asinine statement.


Kenneth R. Gregg - 3/17/2006

Craig,
I never met Dr. Avrich either but, like you, had read all of his books. He treated all aspects of anarchism, including the individualists, quite sympathetically and with great understanding.

I appreciated his writings on the Russian anarchists as much as I did his later writings on American anarchism.

He will be missed.


Craig J. Bolton - 3/16/2006

Although I never had the honor of meeting Mr. Avrich I have read all of his published books. He had just that right balance of irony and sympathy required to portray his subjects. This is a great loss.