imposs1904
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A couple of links for the Robert Barltrop's Monument trainspotters on the forum.In the book Barltrop mentions a couple of novels that were written by SPGB members in the 1940s. Both books were reveiwed in the Standard, and I thought they might be of interest to a couple of people here:Link: June 1950 George Camden's My Time My LifeLink: November 1944 William Cameron's The Day is ComingI've read the George Camden (Sid Rubin) novel, and it's a very fine work but it's not immediately apparent that it was written by an SPGBer.I've yet to read Cameron's novel – though I have it on the shelf – but Gilmac's review is interesting and the biographical information on Cameron which is provided on the dustjacket of the book is a wee window on who made up the membership of the Party in the inter-war years.
Some more Paul Breeze material from the Socialist Standard:Link: March 1977 A poem, 'The Breakthrough'Link: September 1977 A poem, 'Roots'Link: December 1977, How I became a Socialist
ALB wrote:Impossible1904 has very timelely just reproduced on his Socialist Standard Past and Present site an article from the August 1981 Socialist Standard on the last time people calling themselves Marxists took responsibility for trying to get capitalism out of an economic crisis: the PS/PCF coalition government that entered officein France in June 1981:http://socialiststandardmyspace.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/communists-in-government.htmlNo doubt the follow-up article, two years later in the June 1983 "France: from failure to fiasco", explaining what happened next. is being scanned as we speak.The main difference is that the Syriza government in Greece has taken power under much severe economic conditions so will have even less chance of succeeding in making capitalism bend to its political will. Sad perhaps, but that's the cruel truth.I have been known to do requests:Link: "France: from failure to fiasco"
imposs1904 wrote:Six and seven in the Backwaters of History series.Link: Socialist Standard March 1954: English Naval Mutinies 1797Link: Socialist Standard April 1954: Paris CommuneEight and nine in the Backwaters of History series:Link: Socialist Standard June 1954: Münzer and the Thuringian RevoltLink: Socialist Standard July 1954: The Knights of Labour Just two more to go in the series . . . then I can take a breather and reintroduce myself to Georges Simenon.
Six and seven in the Backwaters of History series.Link: Socialist Standard March 1954: English Naval Mutinies 1797Link: Socialist Standard April 1954: Paris Commune
ALB wrote:We're not in it, but then we say we're not "left". So we can't have our cake and eat it, though of course we should be in it. We have of course asked for a review copy.There's a discussion on why we're not here. Go to post 96 and following. There's also this ditty about us (message 100)Quote:(To the tune Bonnie Dundee) If you think the treatment of workers is wrong, Oppose any measure that helps them along; Don’t join up with Labour, don’t join the CP, But fight the whole lot in the SPGBIf you want to live in a world without war, Don’t go on the march, don’t sit down on the floor; Don’t join the Committee, don’t join CND, But fight the whole lot in the SPGB.(Composed R Condon, c. 1963)I knew Richard Condon at the time. He was then, like the rest of the IS Group (which later became the SWP), in the Labour Party as this ditty reflects. There's a letter from him defending being in the Labour Party in the June 1963 Socialist Standard. He later became a Eurocrat (where I came across him again).
That June 1963 letter – with reply – from Richard Condon has now popped up on the Socialist Standard Past and Present blog:Link: CND and SPGB
imposs1904 wrote:Before there was wikipedia and spartacus.net, there was Bill Waters 'Backwaters of History' series in the Socialist Standard: Link: Socialist Standard September 1953: The DiggersLink: Socialist Standard October 1953: The Babeuf ConspiracyLink: Socialist Standard December 1953: The SpartacistsLink: Socialist Standard January 1954: The Austrian Civil War 4 down . . . another 6 or 7 to go.Fifth in the series. Link: Socialist Standard February 1954: Peasants Revolt of 1381
Before there was wikipedia and spartacus.net, there was Bill Waters 'Backwaters of History' series in the Socialist Standard: Link: Socialist Standard September 1953: The DiggersLink: Socialist Standard October 1953: The Babeuf ConspiracyLink: Socialist Standard December 1953: The SpartacistsLink: Socialist Standard January 1954: The Austrian Civil War 4 down . . . another 6 or 7 to go.
They do all eventually end up on this website (in the Socialist Standard archive), and I'm sure if and when Rob puts this latest article on the website, it will be included in the newsletter.
jondwhite wrote:imposs1904 wrote:Writing from the other side of the Ocean, a better functioning WSPUS would be nice. After all, 2016 isn't that far away and that will be the hundredth anniversary of the formation of the WSPUS.And, yes, I know that the WSPUS will only function better if members like my good self get off my arse and do some actual activity.It would be more than nice, it is a historical imperative.
Another article from the 1970s Socialist Standard series, 'Why I Joined The SPGB'Link: July 1975 Horace JarvisI'd question some of the details of the article, but it's interesting nonetheless. If I see any more from the series, I'll post them up.
Writing from the other side of the Ocean, a better functioning WSPUS would be nice. After all, 2016 isn't that far away and that will be the hundredth anniversary of the formation of the WSPUS.And, yes, I know that the WSPUS will only function better if members like my good self get off my arse and do some actual activity.
