Emma Goldman was a pivotal figure in the anarchist movement, renowned for her passionate speeches and writings. She critically examined capitalism, institutions like marriage, and championed freedom of speech and women's rights. Her work engaged with a broad spectrum of social and political issues, shaping anarchist philosophy and politics across North America and Europe. After years of obscurity, her iconic status was revived in the 1970s, recognizing her contributions to feminist and anarchist thought.
Emma Goldman stands out as a prominent activist and philosopher from the early 20th century, known for her anarchist beliefs and passionate advocacy for free speech and personal freedom. Her complex legacy elicits both admiration and criticism, reflecting her significant impact on social and political thought during her time.
Radical thinker and writer Emma Goldman presents her life story and memories in Living My Life, first published in 1931. Originally two volumes, it is published here as a combined edition. From her arrival in New York as a 20-year-old seamstress, when she immediately launched into a life of activism and public agitation, she recalls her childhood in Lithuania, her immigration to the U.S. as a teenager, and her wild adventures as an independent and intelligent woman. An important and influential figure in such far-flung geopolitical events as the Russian Revolution and the Spanish Civil War, Goldman is one of the most storied people of the 20th century. And her story, in her own inimitable words, is one of the great biographies, and one of the great personal histories of a turbulent era. Anarchist and feminist EMMA GOLDMAN (1869-1940) is one of the towering figures in global radicalism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Lithuania, she emigrated to the United States as a teenager, was deported in 1919 for her criticism of the U.S. military draft in World War I, and died in Toronto after a globetrotting life. An early advocate of birth control, women's rights, and workers' unions, she was an important and influential figure in such far-flung geopolitical events as the Russian Revolution and the Spanish Civil War. Among her many books are My Disillusionment in Russia (1925) and Living My Life (1931).
Emma Goldman was a prominent figure in global radicalism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for her diverse beliefs as an anarchist, feminist, pacifist, communist, and advocate for birth control and free love. Her controversial ideas sparked both outrage and admiration during the Gilded Age, World War I, and the Roaring Twenties. Goldman's legacy continues to symbolize the pursuit of cultural revolution and social change, making her an enduring icon in the history of activism.
Anarchist, journalist, drama critic, advocate of birth control and free love, Emma Goldman was the most famous—and notorious—woman in the early twentieth century. This abridged version of her two-volume autobiography takes her from her birthplace in czarist Russia to the socialist enclaves of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Against a dramatic backdrop of political argument, show trials, imprisonment, and tempestuous romances, Goldman chronicles the epoch that she helped shape: the reform movements of the Progressive Era, the early years of and later disillusionment with Lenin’s Bolshevik experiment, and more. Sounding a call still heard today, Living My Life is a riveting account of political ferment and ideological turbulence.First time in Penguin ClassicsCondensed to half the length of Goldman's original work, this edition is accessible to those interested in the activist and her extraordinary era
A teenager when she and her family emigrated to the United States, Emma Goldman (1869–1940) was so greatly affected by Chicago's Haymarket Square tragedy in 1886 that she became a revolutionary and campaigned for such then-controversial transformations in society as higher wages, the eight-hour workday, birth control, and abolition of the draft. Because of these activities, she was deported to Russia in 1919, where she was able to witness the Revolution's aftermath firsthand. Horrified by what she saw in major cities and revolted by the Bolshevik dictatorship, she left the country in 1921 and, soon after, set down her thoughts in two books — My Disillusionment in Russia and My Further Disillusionment in Russia. She wrote passionately about political harassment and forced labor inflicted upon the masses, rampant opportunism raging throughout the Soviet government, industrial militarization, persecution of anarchists, and the government's increased use of deportation as a political weapon. Her writings helped turn a large number of socialists against the Bolshevik government. Her two books have been combined in this Dover edition — a volume that will be of value to teachers, students, and anyone interested in the socio-economic problems of the early 20th century.
Emma Goldman was a multifaceted activist whose beliefs encompassed anarchism, feminism, pacifism, communism, and advocacy for birth control and free love. Her radical ideas sparked both admiration and controversy during pivotal historical periods such as the Gilded Age, World War I, and the Roaring Twenties. Goldman’s legacy endures as a symbol of cultural revolution, reflecting her significant influence on social and political movements of her time.
The collection showcases Emma Goldman's diverse opinions and vibrant personality through a comprehensive selection of her writings. It features nine essays from her 1910 work, dramatic excerpts from her 1931 autobiography, and an insightful afterword that proved prophetic regarding the Soviet Union. Additionally, sixteen previously uncompiled pieces explore a wide array of topics, including anarchism, sexuality, marriage, and war, providing a multifaceted view of Goldman's influential thoughts and life experiences.
Emma Goldman stands out as a prominent figure in early 20th-century activism and philosophy, known for her passionate advocacy of anarchism, free speech, and personal freedom. Her controversial ideas sparked both admiration and criticism, highlighting the complexities of her impact on social movements and political thought during her time.
The narrative explores a world grappling with the decline of parliamentary democracy, where society seeks solutions in Fascism and other authoritarian regimes. It delves into the desperation for stability amidst political turmoil, highlighting the tension between the allure of strong government and the diminishing faith in democratic ideals. Through this lens, the book examines the implications of such a shift on freedom, governance, and the future of society.
Twelve essays by the influential radical include "Marriage and Love," "The Hypocrisy of Puritanism," "The Traffic in Women," Anarchism," and "The Psychology of Political Violence." Other enduringly relevant essays examine patriotism, the failure of the penal system, and drama as a means of conveying political theory.
