Memoirs of a Revolutionist

Peter Kropotkin, Nicolas Walter

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9780486125350
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European History
• Index: History

Born into a wealthy family of landowners, Prince Peter Alexeivich Kropotkin (1842-1921) served in the court of the Tsar and held prestigious diplomatic posts. But the prince renounced his life of privilege to embrace nonviolent anarchism, a revolutionary alternative to Marxism. A leading theoretician of his day, Kropotkin wrote the basic books in the library of anarchism, prepared countless pamphlets and speeches, and worked tirelessly to subvert the class structure and promote a philosophy of collective action.
In this autobiography, Kropotkin recounts his early life in the royal court and his military service in Siberia, along with his imprisonment, escape, and European exile. His portraits of nineteenth-century Russian life rival those of the great novelists, ranging from moving examples of the unbridgeable chasm between nobles and serfs to gripping scenes of midnight plots enacted outside the Kremlin’s walls. An eminent geographer and cartographer, Kropotkin also offers fascinating views from his explorations of Siberia. An Introduction and explanatory notes enhance this unabridged edition of a thrilling real-life story of idealism and adventure.

INDEX

ADLEBBBBG, Count, 149.

Agents, government. See Spies.

Agriculture, in Finland and other parts of Russia, 237–239.

Aigle, Switzerland, 437, 438.

Aigúñ, Manchuria, 206.

Aksákoff, Iván, 131, 174.

Albarracin, a member of the Jura Federation, 395, 396.

Alexander II., at the funeral of the Dowager-Empress, 111, 120; attends the manœuvres of the military schools, 121–123; takes the first steps towards the abolition of serfdom, 129, 130; hesitates to proclaim freedom, 130–132; issues manifesto of emancipation, 132–134; meets with popular approval, 134, 135; his court life, 141–144; his relations with a certain princess, 144, 145; closely watched by the police, 145, 146; his moods, 146; an incident at a parade of the garrison, 146: 147; his character, 148–151; his policy becoming reactionary, 148–151; 152; surrenders to the reactionaries, 163, 164; his address to the newly promoted officers, 165, 166; his talk with Kropótkin before the latter’s departure for Siberia, 166, 167; his betrayal of the reform movement, 183; retains Dmítri Milútin as minister of war, 242; a tool of Shuváloff and Trépoff, 242, 243; as a bear hunter, 243, 244; his courage, cowardice, brutality, and cruelty, 244; official corruption under, 245, 246; restriction of education under, 247, 248; shot at by Karakózoff, 253, 254; 260, 261, 310; protected by the very men whom he afterwards exiled, 315, 316; 344, 349; refuses to liberate Alexander Kropótkin, 357; 376, 377; increases the sentences of socialists, 415; adopts severe measures against the revolutionary movement, 427–429; his relations with Dmítri Kropótkin, 428; his courage and cowardice again, 429; his relations with Princess Yurievski-Dolgorúki and the Empress, 430; alarmed by an attempt to blow up the Winter Palace he creates a sort of dictatorship, which he soon abolishes, 430; wavers between constitutionalism and absolutism, 431; decides to convoke a deliberative assembly, 431; his assassination, 431, 432; the tragedy of his life, 432, 433.

Alexander III., a true descendant of Paul I., 152, 153; his lack of education, 152, 153; his haughtiness and impetuosity, 153; 246, 413; fears assassination on his accession, 434; organizations for the protection of, 434, 435; at first willing to convoke a National Assembly, he finally resolves to remain absolute ruler, 436; an arrangement to protect him until after his coronation, 445, 446; objects to Kropótkin’s release from Clairvaux, 484.

Amúr, the river, 184–186; barge navigation on, 186–189, 191–193; scenery on, 189; a post boat journey on, 189, 190; floods and high seas in the rainy season, 190, 191; a typhoon on, 191; a perilous journey on, 192, 193; a steamer on, 193, 194; 206, 208.

Amúr region, the, annexation to Russia, 184; settlement of, 184–186. See Manchuria, Siberia, Transbaikália.

Anarchism, the first spark of, 282; the aim of the Jura Federation, 287; gaining headway in Western Europe, 378; its presence saves Europe from a period of reaction, 387–390...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright Page
• Introduction to The Dover Edition
• Contents
• Introduction by Geobg Bbandes
• Part First: Childhood
• Part Second: The Cobps of Pages
• Part Third: Siberia
• Part Fourth: St. Petersbubg; First Journey to Western Europe
• Part Fifth: The Fobtbess; The Escape
• Part Sixth: Westebn Eubope
• Note on The Ortraits
• Index