RE: [Marxism] Deutscher trilogy reviewed

["Mark Lause" <MLause@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I share the general appreciation for the Deutscher trilogy here.  It
wasn't unusual for us Leftist dropouts of 30+ years ago to read two- and
three-volume sets.  How about Trotsky's own History of the Russian
Revolution or even Winston Churchill's masterfully written multi-volume
histories?

However, there was very little encouragement of such things, especially
not on the organized Left.  I remember when our YSA local was having
educationals on tracts like "Socialism, Utopian and Scientific," we were
told that it was too complicated and that we should have educationals
around tracts presenting the current line on this or that issue.
"Complicated"!  Textile workers laboring 12+ hours a day in 1870 studied
these things, but such tracts were too "complicated" for American
college students in 1970!!!

After a generation of dumbing down, I can't help but wonder how much of
a taste for three-volume biographies runs nowadays.  Now, if we could
just develop a sock puppet version of the life of Trotsky....

Solidarity!
Mark L.





_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism