Ragnar Redbeard

Ragnar Redbeard is the nom de guerre used by Arthur Desmond (1859-1929) when he wrote the infamous "Might is Right." A book that communists, workers and the I.W.W. took to heart.

In 1884 local New Zealander Arthur Desmond stood as the radical candidate for the Hawke's Bay Parliament election. By 1893 Desmond, the rebel unionist agitator had moved to Australia fighting on the barricades. He produced pamphlets and journals like HARD CASH, and The Standard Bearer.

After he fled law and country, Desmond ends up in Chicago, Illinois. There he lived a life under many diffrent names. He had an Advertisement Bureau, he was the store manager for Ser-Vis Candy & Ice Cream shop. He sold, printed, imported, and published books through Thurland & Thurland, and The House of Gowrie.

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