Customer Reviews

Selected political writings, (Writings of the Left)

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I borrowed this book from a friend and had to obtain a copy for my own personal library.

The introduction is so moving that anyone interested in modern Irish History will not put it down.

Connolly's viewpoints on Socialism, Nationalism, and the Catholic Church lifted an enormous cloud of confusion I have had since my early schooldays in Belfast.

I once heard that Lenin was a great admirer of Connolly, and having just finished Guerrilla Days In Ireland by Tom Barry I though it would be a good idea to learn a little more about the origins of the IRA by reading Connolly so I purchased this book. What I found was a writer far more accessible that the likes or Marx or Lenin who at times can be a little difficult to read for the layman. Connolly speaks the simple unadulterated truth and I have to agree with my fellow reviewer, Connolly has definitely removed a cloud of confusion in my mind on the conflict in Ireland.

On a personal note I am a former member of the Industrial Workers of the World, Connolly was also a member of the union and like any socialist worth his salt he was a union organizer, Connolly reiterated in my mind the importance of putting economic action before political action. Like any good student of Connolly I feel I must quote him...

"The enrollment of the workers in unions patterned closely after the structure of modern industries, and following the organic lines of industrial development, is par excellence, the swiftest, safest and most peaceful form of constructive work the socialist can engage in. It prepares within the framework of capitalist society the working forms of the Socialist Republic, and thus, while increasing the resisting power of the worker against present encroachments of the capitalist class, it familiarizes him with the idea that the union he is helping to build up is destined to supplant that class in the control of the industry in which he is employed.
The power of this idea to transform the dry detail work of trade union organization into the constructive work of revolutionary socialism and thus to make the unimaginative trade unionist a potent factor in the launching of a new system of society cannot be overestimated." (Socialism made easy)

This is one of those books where as I'm reading it I found myself tearing up little strips of paper book marking numerous pages to be reread and quoted, I find it easy now to understand why he is so influential.