John Reed describing the transformation of Russian society with the outbreak of the 1917 revolution: As in all such times, the petty conventional life of the city went on, ignoring the Revolution as much as possible. The poets made verses–but not about the Revolution. The realistic painters painted scenes from medieval Russian history–anything but the
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‘If I had the job of popularizing this war, I would begin by sending three or four thousand American soldiers to certain death’
John Reed, “The Unpopular War,” Seven Arts, August 1917, interviewing a group of Council of National Defense officials about the US involvement in an ensuing unpopular World War: The aviation enthusiast spoke up, lying on his back and blowing expensive cigar smoke at the ceiling. “Do you know what is needed? Only one thing–the same
Read on »The origins of workers’ control of industry in Russia
A fascinating account by John Reed, written on November 23, 1918 in The Revolutionary Age.
Read on »‘I hate soldiers. I hate to see a man with a bayonet fixed on his rifle, who can order me off the street’
John Reed, “The Worst Thing in Europe,” The Masses, March 1915: I hate soldiers. I hate to see a man with a bayonet fixed on his rifle, who can order me off the street. I hate to belong to an organization that is proud of obeying a caste of superior beings, that is proud of
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