New Kate Sharpley Library Pamphlet. An introduction to anarchism: "You Anarchist, You!" by Ernestan

international | history of anarchism | other libertarian press Sunday June 07, 2009 15:37 by KSL - Kate Sharpley Library

The Kate Sharpley Library (KSL) collective are pleased to announce our latest pamphlet, a Malatesta-style talk about anarchism and the state of the world between two workers, with satirical illustrations by Richard Warren.

"You Anarchist, You!" by Ernestan; translated by Paul Sharkey, illustrated by Richard Warren, introduction by Nick Heath
Frank the anarchist meets his friend Pete; they chat about the state of the world and how to change it. They also cover what anarchism is (as opposed to what the media say it is). Frank tells Pete "You are an honest, dyed-in-the-wool anarchist of the finest stripe and I can prove that wherever and whenever you like." Pete ends up not just feeling "a bit of an anarchist", but knowing that he is one. Richard Warren's satirical illustrations have a go at politicians on the take, employers who know nothing and control everything, bankers whose mistakes we have to pay for, and the "crazy anarchist" stereotype.

* Ernestan (Ernest Tanrez, 1898-1954) was a Belgian anarchist, and began writing for the anarchist press in 1921. "You Anarchist, You!" is one of his post-war agitational works, written in a conversational style and aimed at convincing his readers that anarchism, far from being strange or frightening, actually matches what they already see and think about the world.
* Translated by Paul Sharkey from "Tu es anarchiste" (Editions du 'Libertaire', Paris, no date [circa 1948]. The title literally reads "You are an Anarchist", but we think "You Anarchist, You!" captures the mood better.)
* Richard Warren is an occasional anarchist illustrator best known and loved for his "Ann & Archie" series in the "Cienfuegos Press Anarchist Review". See some of the illustrations at http://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/fttfwv
* Nick Heath is a member of the Anarchist Federation, and regularly produces biographies of anarchist militants for their magazine, "Organise".

Kate Sharpley Library
BM Hurricane, London, WC1N 3XX, UK
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www.katesharpleylibrary.net

"You Anarchist, You!" by Ernestan; translated by Paul Sharkey, illustrated by Richard Warren, introduction by Nick Heath
ISBN: 9781873605790
Anarchist Library series 21
£3 (£2 to KSL subscribers and direct orders) / $3
Review copies are available.

Also just published KSL: Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library No. 58-59, June 2009.
This double issue contains obituaries of our recently-departed comrades Abel Paz and Edgar Rodrigues, as well as biographies of Errico Malatesta, Emile Pouget and Melchor Rodriquez and work on anti-fascism in Liverpool, and Anarchism in Germany, Austria and Sweden. http://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/kkwj96