Year: 2012

Contr'un

Two texts by Emile Digeon

March 28, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Anarchist history is just full to overflowing with characters who seldom receive more than a footnote in the histories, but were major players in some aspect of the history of anarchist struggle. And it’s no secret that I am very fond of these lesser-known figures. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to justify taking the time to translate texts which do not have some fairly general application to contemporary issues. Even when dealing with the “big names” of the movement there are frequently lots of writings, or parts of writings, which are hard to make much sense of without delving fairly deeply […]
Working Translations

Anselme Bellegarrigue, “The Electoral Law”

March 26, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
[ezcol_2third] Along with the essay “The Revolution,” the second issue of Bellegarrigue’s Anarchy: A Journal of Order also contained this essay: THE ELECTORAL LAW In the first issue of this journal, we have clearly, even audaciously expressed our opinion regarding the present character of electoral rights. The attitude of the people in the face of the partial suppression of this right proposed by Parliament has proven to us that our doctrine was in conformity with the general sentiment. The electorate is not a principle. The popular instinct is more sure than the reasoning of the sophists, for that instinct bears […]
Contr'un

God, Women and Proudhon — Eugène Stourm

March 20, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Slowly, but surely, I’m assembling the various feminist responses to Proudhon. The pages of L’Opinion des Femmes is rich with that sort of thing, since it was Jeanne Deroin’s primary forum at the time she proposed herself for political office, and drew fire from Proudhon and others. In the May, 1849 issue, the following essay, by Eugène Stourm, appeared. I think it’s an interesting mix of fairly accurate critique and misunderstanding. Certainly, the more details emerge, the more interesting the conflict looks. I think this project is going to be a lot of fun. God, Women, and Proudhon. The enemies […]
Black and Red Feminism

Feminism in Lyon before 1848: Eugénie Niboyet and Flora Tristan

March 19, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
I’ve posted a working translation of both sections of Maximilien Buffenoir’s “Feminism in Lyon before 1848.” I had worked up the section on Eugénie Niboyet last June, and finally got a chance to finish up the section on Flora Tristan. Those inclined to chase footnotes in the original French may find some interesting material in the archive of L’Echo de la Fabrique. And those interested in Niboyet’s work can read one poem, “The War,” in French or English translation in the Libertarian Labyrinth archive.
Contr'un

Feminism in Lyon before 1848: Eugénie Niboyet and Flora Tristan

March 19, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
FEMINISM IN LYON BEFORE 1848 I. —Feminist Tendencies before 1834. Mme Niboyet. When Fourier and, after him, the Saint-Simonians denounced the inequality of the sexes as a denial of justice, they revived a long-interrupted tradition. After Condorcet, the ardent forerunner of feminism, who was concerned with the role of woman? The Revolution, accustomed to find in her an enemy more often than an ally, had neglected to take her part after the assassination of Marat by Charlotte Corday. Napoleon was not the man to make her a part of his plans. She herself seemed disinterested in her own cause. Enfantin […]
translations

Proudhon’s “Toast to the Revolution” (revised translation)

March 19, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Proudhon’s “Toast to the Revolution” was the first major translation I posted on the blog, back in July of 2007. Little did I know at the time how much translating I would end up doing, and I certainly didn’t dream that it would become my primary activity as a radical scholar. But here we are. I’ve winced more than once as I’ve been revising these early translations, but I was pleased to find that there wasn’t much in this one to make me cringe. I’ve clarified a couple of key sections, which were hard to make sense of, either grammatically […]
Working Translations

To the Socialist Democrats of the Department of the Seine, 1850

March 16, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
   TO THE SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SEINE. Some men and women whose devotion to the Republic has cast them into exile, some comrades in belief and in misfortune, lack everything, and we are sad that we cannot do anything to alleviate their sufferings. So far, the cantonal allowances, and some individual assistance have been enough to make their position tolerable; today, our feeble resources are exhausted. The refugees provided for by the State are barracked and subjected to a regime which treats them like prisoners of war. The little food they are given is detestable; no […]
Proudhon Library

Alfred Darimon, “Notice on the Journals of Proudhon” (1884)

March 16, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Related links: A New Proudhon Library [project page] Le Représentant du Peuple: specimen issues Le Représentant du Peuple: misc. writings These journals are now available online at Gallica.  From Alfred Darimon, A Travers une Révolution (1884) NOTICE ON THE JOURNALS OF PROUDHON I. — le Représentant du Peuple. The true founder of the Représentant du Peuple was Mr. Jules Viard, a humorous writer who died very young. Mr. Jules Viard published under this title, in 1847, a financial prospectus and two sample issues, one dated October 4, 1847, and the second dated November 13, 1847. It was also M. Jules […]
Contr'un

Coeurderoy and Vauthier, “The Barrier of the Combat” (1852)

March 11, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
I’ve posted a working translation of The Barrier of the Combat, by Ernest Coeurderoy and Octave Vauthier. For some explanation of the title, see my earlier post on La Barrière du Combat. The essay, which is aimed at squabbling socialist exiles, ends with Coeurderoy’s famous argument that liberty in Europe could only be made possible if a Cossack invasion first wiped away civilization. Of the early anarchists, Coeurderoy was probably the most accomplished and literary writer, which posed a slightly different set of translation problems than I faced with Bellegarrigue and Déjacque. I’ve learned a number of things about the […]
Ernest Cœurderoy
Working Translations

Coeurderoy and Vauthier, “The Barrier of the Combat” (1852)

March 10, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”]   [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] The Barrier of the Combat, or the last great assault which has just been engaged between the citizens Mazzini, Ledru-Rollin, Louis Blanc, Étienne Cabet, Pierre Leroux, Martin Nadaud, Malarmet, A. Bianchi (de Lille) and other Hercules of the north. Ernest Cœurderoy and Octave Vauthier Bruxelles, 1852   This was written long ago. The slight impact made by the manifestos of Mazzini, Ledru, L. Blanc and their companions had at first discouraged us from publishing it. After the meeting of the outcasts of the Seine, who had taken refuge in […]