A New Notion: Two Works by C.L.R. James: "Every Cook Can Govern" and "The Invading Socialist Society" - Softcover

James, C. L. R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0850366690 ISBN 13: 9780850366693

Publisher: Merlin Press

Synopsis

Portraying C. L. R. James as a leading figure in the independence movement in the West Indies and in the black and working-class movements in both Britain and the United States, this volume provides an extensive introduction to James's life and thought before presenting two critical works that illustrate the tremendous breadth and depth of his worldview. Both long-out-of-print pamphlets display James's contributions to Marxist and revolutionary theory as he documents and elaborates on the aspects of working-class activity that constitute the revolution in today's world. Fully encapsulating James's thoughts on democracy and workers' emancipation, these essential works represent the principal themes that run through James's life: implacable hostility toward all "condescending saviors" of the working class and an underlying faith in the power of ordinary people to build a new world.

About this title

About the Author

C. L. R. James is a major figure in Pan-Africanism and the author of a wide array of fiction and nonfiction, including Beyond a Boundary, A Majestic Innings: Writings on Cricket, and The Nobbie Stories for Children and Adults. Noel Ignatiev is a teacher at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the editor of Lesson of the Hour: Wendell Phillips on Abolition and Strategy, and the author of How the Irish Became White. He lives in Boston.

Review

"It would take a person with great confidence and good judgment to select from the substantial writings of C. L. R. James just two items to represent the 'principle themes' in James' life and thoughts. Fortunately Noel Ignatiev is such a person . . . A concise but thorough introduction."  —John H. Bracey Jr., professor of African-American studies, University of Massachusetts–Amherst

"C. L. R. James has arguably had a greater influence on the underlying thinking of independence movements in the West Indies and Africa than any living man."  —Sunday Times

"It remains remarkable how far ahead of his time [C. L. R. James] was on so many issues."  —New Society

"It is crucial that these texts, so long circulated on the Left in pamphlet form, be made available to new generations of readers and activists. PM Press and Noel Ignatiev . . . are to be thanked for this."  —XCP: Cross Cultural Poetics no. 23

Edition details

• Publisher: Merlin Press
• ISBN 10: 0850366690
• ISBN 13: 9780850366693
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English