Political biographies/autobiographies

[Dragnet]

Had a quick search but couldn't find anything on this, so apologies if this has been done before.

So, which ones are worth a read?

I enjoyed Albert Meltzer's I Couldn't Paint Golden Angels - lots of focus on practical activity and the formation of his politics. Martin Wright's Anti-fascist is another good one.

I've got a few on my (virtual) to-read pile as well - Joe Jacobs' Out of the Ghetto, Marxism in a Lost Century (Paul Mattick bio), James Carr's Bad.

 

[Serge Forward]

The Dossier of Subject No. 1218: A Bulgarian Anarchist’s Story
by Alexander Nakov

ALEXANDER NAKOV, BORN 1919: “SECONDARY EDUCATION IN FASCIST PRISONS… HIGHER EDUCATION IN BOLSHEVIK PRISONS”

Of the few who managed to survive the horrors of Bulgaria’s Stalinist concentration camps, Alexander Nakov is possibly the most representative of the older generation of active and committed anarchists.

Initially reluctant to write his memoirs, Alexander was eventually persuaded by friends that his story needed to be told. And by telling that story, he now remains a vital link between the anarchist militants of the past and the youth of today.

In clear and concise prose, Alexander details his youthful activity, his subsequent imprisonment and his fierce resistance to an inhuman system.

As well as his memoirs, this book also contains official government and state security documents about the author – documents that give yet another insight into the anarchist Alexander Nakov, targeted by the “People’s State” and classified as “Subject No.1218.”

Translated from the Bulgarian original by Mariya Radeva, edited by Rob Blow, foreword by Nick Heath.

Available from here: Publications – Anarchist Communist Group

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Jacobs and Carr are v good.

 

[Serge Forward]

Aye. Joe Jacobs is excellent.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I really enjoyed Emma Goldman’s “Living My Life” earlier this year.

Ian Bone’s “Bash The Rich” is amazing.

Have fond memories of Fredy Perlman’s “Having Little Being Much” too. Might read that again.

 

[LDC]

BAD by Carr is hard reading. Stuart Christie's is good, and I enjoyed Ian Bone's as well Fozzie Bear, good fun to read!

 

[Fozzie Bear]

BAD by Carr is hard reading.

In that some of it is quite grim, or that it's got lots of big words in? (The former iirc? It's probably been 20 years tho so can't be sure)

 

[Dragnet]

Ian Bone’s “Bash The Rich” is amazing.

Ah, forgot that one - excellent read.

 

[LDC]

In that some of it is quite grim, or that it's got lots of big words in? (The former iirc? It's probably been 20 years tho so can't be sure)

Grim. Prison rape, murder, brutal gangs, etc. etc..

 

[LDC]

Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver on my list to get, but it was stupidly expensive when I last checked.

There's a biography of Murray Bookchin out now too as well I think.

 

[Pickman's model]

Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver on my list to get, but it was stupidly expensive when I last checked.

amazon has it from £6.86

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver on my list to get, but it was stupidly expensive when I last checked.

There's a biography of Murray Bookchin out now too as well I think.

I think this is also quite grim in terms of prison stuff but can't remember. I might have a copy I can send you though?

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Would also thoroughly recommend Red Rosa by Kate Evans (graphic novel biog of Rosa Luxemberg)

 

[Kate Sharpley]

You might like
Left of the Left: my memories of Sam Dolgoff (AK)
AK Have also re-released Paul Avrich's biography of Voltairine de Cleyre. Anything by PA is worth reading in my opinion

 

[LDC]

I think this is also quite grim in terms of prison stuff but can't remember. I might have a copy I can send you though?

That'd be ace, thanks! Let me know what you want for it by PM, or if there's anything you're after I can see if I have as a swap.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

That'd be ace, thanks! Let me know what you want for it by PM, or if there's anything you're after I can see if I have as a swap.

It might have been culled but will PM over the weekend.

 

[butchersapron]

The absolute best one i've ever read was Franklin Rosemont's Joe Hill : The IWW & the Making of a Revolutionary Working class Counter-culture. I cannot recommend this highly enough - the perfect example of how to do collective biography. One of the best books from our tradition i have ever read.

 

[sunnysidedown]

Best thing I've read recently, which on the most part is autobiographical, is Phil A Neels' Hinterland, America's New Landscape of Class and Conflict. Excellent stuff.

 

[butchersapron]

Couple of reviews of Rosemont's book:

Linebaugh

Goldner

 

[LDC]

The absolute best one i've ever read was Franklin Rosemont's Joe Hill : The IWW & the Making of a Revolutionary Working class Counter-culture. I cannot recommend this highly enough - the perfect example of how to do collective biography. One of the best books from our tradition i have ever read.

Stop making me spend money ffs.

 

[imposs1904]

With Breast Expanded by Brian Behan (It's available on Archive.org website.)
No Mean Fighter by Harry McShane
Keeping My Head by Harry Wicks

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Bad by James Carr is now on Libcom as a nice PDF Bad: The autobiography of James Carr

 

[Dragnet]

Bad by James Carr is now on Libcom as a nice PDF Bad: The autobiography of James Carr

Started reading this a couple of days ago, although that pdf looks a higher quality than the one I've got. Disturbing reading.

 

[tedsplitter]

Would also thoroughly recommend Red Rosa by Kate Evans (graphic novel biog of Rosa Luxemberg)

I got this for Christmas off my kids (I gave them a list lol) and finished it the other night, superb book. Doesn't flinch from important bits of theory and incorporates them into the graphic form well, but mostly it's so very moving - I laughed out loud and had to have a bit of a weep at a couple of bits. It's a strong recommend from me too.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I got the Joe Hill book that BA recommended from my Mum for Xmas too.

 

[Dragnet]

Finished reading Bad a few days ago. Brilliant book, I just wish it was longer and delved a bit more deeply in to his movement away from the Black Panthers and towards a less vanguardist position. Don't know enough about the Panthers either, really - will have to make a start on reading about them too.