The women incendiaries

English translation [from the French] by James and Starr Atkinson; amendments [to this translation] by Roger Greaves.

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Edith Thomas: The women incendiaries (1967, Secker & Warburg)

240 pages

English language

Published Jan. 24, 1967 by Secker & Warburg.

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(1 review)

4 editions

An interesting read.

So many bits and pieces of this book are things that could be written about today, from the author's jabs at many male historians for overlooking the roles of women within movements or considering feminism as unnecessary to some of the quotes taken from the women of the Commune and their frustrations within activism and movement spaces.

It's not surprising, but it is frustrating.

Overwhelmingly, this was a good read. It focused on a history that, even among anarchists, is rarely focused on (the Paris Commune and Louise Michel may be used frequently as a symbol, but it is rarely talked about what actually happened -- the events are glossed over). But it's intriguing because it incorporates a range of nuance for the many different women it sheds light on.

Subjects

  • Women -- History -- Modern period, 1600-
  • Women -- France -- Paris
  • Paris (France) -- History -- Commune, 1871.
  • Paris (France) -- History -- Siege, 1870-1871