rufzerg666 reviewed The Russian Anarchists by Paul Avrich
Review of 'The Russian Anarchists' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Wonderfully written, very lucid. Avrich is one of the foremost scholars of anarchism. This is essential and canonical reading for anyone interested in the history of anarchism, with special focus on mid-to-late nineteenth century Russia, and the subsequent period of the rise of the Soviet state in the early decades of the twentieth. The perspective of the Russian anarchists gives a clear view of the negative effects of the rise of the authoritarian left on the whole radical movement in Russia. It presents a lot of criticism of the anarchists as well, namely, their seeming inability to coalesce into a cohesive whole. Bitter factionalism are frequently experienced, there is also the anti-intellectual strain which is interestingly discussed by Avrich, among other issues.
Also another great introductory work I recommend is James Joll's 'The Anarchists.'
