biographies
Biographies and autobiographies of key historical figures and thinkers, and ordinary people who have tried to change the world.
Gutman, [Gotman] Iosif I. aka Iosif the Emigrant, 1890-1920
A short biography of Russian Jewish anarchist Iosif the Emigrant who was a strong advocate of close cooperation between the anarchist movement and the Makhnovists
“A short, slender man of thirty, with lustrous dark eyes set wide apart, and a face of peculiar sadness. The expression of his eyes still haunts me: now mournful, now irate, they reflect all the tragedy of his Jewish descent. His smile speaks the kindliness of a heart that has suffered and learned to understand”. The Bolshevik Myth, Alexander Berkman.
Kalandarishvili, Nestor Alexandrevitch, 1876-1922
Nick Heath's short biography of Nestor Kalandarishvili, a high profile anarchist who defected to the Bolsheviks.
[b] 3. The other Nestor
Geytsman, Ilya, 1874/1879-1938
A short biography of former anarchist Ilya Geytsman who defected to the Bolsheviks, and then was later executed in Stalin's purges.
2. Chaim The Londoner – from anarchist to Lenin sycophant
GEYTSMAN Ilya M. (Itsko-Isaac Moyshev Fayvishev) aka P. Geytsman, Haim London or Chaim the Londoner 1874/1879-1938
Marut, Ret: The Early B. Traven - James Goldwasser
A 1990s article surveying the then recently-acquired Ret Marut archive, now residing with the University of California. The documents confirm certain known facts of Marut's life and times, prior to his (now generally accepted) transformation into the reclusive anarchist novelist B. Traven. The collection also provides some further fuel for speculation on the life and identity of the enigma that remains B. Traven.
Marut and his partner Irene Mermet published the anti-war anarchist magazine "Der Zeigelbrenner" (The Brickmaker or Brickburner) throughout the 1st World war - and continued post-war, after Marut became a fugitive wanted for his participation in the Bavarian Council Republic.
Akashev, Konstantin Vasielievitch, 1888-1931
A short biography of the anarchist who defected to the Bolsheviks and became the first commander of the Soviet air force and was later executed.
1. From anarchist to first commander of the Soviet Air Force
Abrams, Jacob aka Jack Abrams, 1883-1953
A short biography of Jack Abrams, active in the USA, Russia and Mexico and famous for the Abrams case which led an assault on US anarchism
He was an excellent organiser, learning languages readily, and spoke beautiful Russian, English and Spanish. He was a fine man, knowledgeable and kind. When he formed an opinion you couldn’t budge him, but when something had to be done, he did it!”. Ida Radosh in Avrich, P. Anarchist Voices.
Sebastian San Vicente 1896- 1938? aka Pedro Sanchez aka El Tampiqueno
A short biography of Spanish anarchist Sebastian San Vicente, active in the USA, Cuba and Mexico and hero of a novel by Paco Ignacio Taibo
The Shadow of a Shadow
Glaberman, Martin: 1918 - 2001 - Obituary by Red and Black Notes
Red & Black Notes was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Martin Glaberman on December 17, 2001. Marty was active in the workers' movement for almost seventy years, as a writer, agitator, activist and teacher. His death is a tremendous loss to those who knew him and the working class.
Marty Glaberman joined the Socialist Party youth group in 1932 when he was 13 years old. He came from a social democratic family and joined the SP because it was the only organization in the neigbourhood. Asked why he joined at 13, he replied they wouldn't take him any younger.
Roda, Maria 1877-19???
A short biography of Maria Roda, a fierce champion of women's liberation and anarchism, active in Italy, France and the United States.
“Who knows poverty more than woman?” Maria Roda
Peregalli on Stinas - Arturo Peregalli
Partial translation of an Italian biography on the life of Greek socialist Aghis Stinas.
Introduction
This study by Arturo Peregalli about the Internationalist Communist Union and its main representative, Aghis Stinas, should have been the fifth chapter of a larger work whose completion was prevented by the premature death of the author.
