Bakunin

by James Mark Leier

"To understand anarchism, it is necessary to go beyond the caricature presented by the media. In this new biography of Michael Bakunin, Mark Leier traces the life and ideas of anarchism's first major thinker, and reveals the origins of the movement." "There was little in Bakunin's background to suggest that he would grow up to be anything other than a loyal subject of the Russian Empire. Instead, he became one the most notorious radicals of the nineteenth century, devoting his life to the destruction of the tsar and feudalism, capitalism, the state, even God. In the process, he became a historical actor and political thinker whose ideas continue to influence world events." "Bakunin is of keen interest these days, though the attention paid to his image continues to obscure the man and his ideas. Using archival sources and the most recent scholarship, Leier corrects many of the popular misconceptions about Bakunin and his ideas, offering a flesh interpretation of Bakunin's life and thoug