Customer Reviews

The Great Anarchists: Ideas and Teachings of Seven Major Thinkers

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Though this is a 2004 edition, Eltzbacher's original text was originally published in 1908. This might be enough to put readers off and search for something more recent and perhaps up to date. Undoubtedly, various texts on the subject exist. However, Eltzbacher's work has its own specialty which is not to be shunned. Four chapters (I, II, X and XI) are of a general nature. The rest (from III to IX) respectively deal with the theories of Godwin, Proudon, Stirner, Bakunin, Kropotkin, Tucker, and Tolstoi. (The last three were still living when Eltzbacher wrote and published his work!)

What is special about this text is its absolutely systematic manner of dealing with the subject matter. This might not seem to indicate anything special. However, it is. For Eltzbacher is so systematic with his material that the text might be considered a methodological guide to reading anything related to the subject (and not only the authors studied in the book).

Eltzbacher's way of procedure is thorough and gradual. He leaves no stone unturned before proceeding to deal with the next. All along he provides sufficient intellectual, critical and methodological tools in order that full justice is made with any author dealing with the subject. Eltzbacher also indicates how one might benefit most from such authors by suggesting what one should be looking for and what one should not neglect. Very often, in fact, the writings of such authors are full of information which might seem quite scattered or disorganised. For study reasons, Eltzbacher proposes how these should be dealt with for the greatest profit to the reader.

Though rather old, I found Eltzbacher's book to be very relevant, not only because of the studies it includes, but more so because of its organisation and method. I think that whoever might be interested in the subject should, before reading relevant authors, go through this book first so get a clear idea of the terrain and how to walk through it. I don't think it will disappoint in this regard.

Hey, the language is a bit antiquated, but the book truly has some great anarchist philosophy. Worth a look.