Letter from EG to Dreiser, Theodore, Sep 29, 1926

By Emma Goldman (1926)

Entry 652

Public

From: holdoffhunger [id: 1]
(holdoffhunger@gmail.com)

../ggcms/src/templates/revoltlib/view/display_childof_anarchism.php

Untitled Anarchism Letter from EG to Dreiser, Theodore, Sep 29, 1926

Not Logged In: Login?

0
0
Comments (0)
Images (1)
Permalink
(1869 - 1940)

Russian-American Mother of Anarcho-Communism

: She is an Anarchist, pure and simple. She represents the idea of Anarchism as framed by Josiah Warren, Proudhon, Bakunin, Kropotkin, Tolstoy. Yet she also understands the psychologic causes which induce a Caserio, a Vaillant, a Bresci, a Berkman, or a Czolgosz to commit deeds of violence. (From: Hippolyte Havel Bio.)
• "The cause lies not in prostitution, but in society itself; in the system of inequality of private property and in the State and Church. In the system of legalized theft, murder and violation of the innocent women and helpless children." (From: "Anarchy and the Sex Question," by Emma Goldman, F....)
• "...slavery of any kind, compulsion under any form, must break down, and from which freedom, full and unlimited freedom, for all and from all must come." (From: "Anarchy Defended By Anarchists," by Emma Goldman ....)
• "Each child responds differently to his environment. Some become rebels, refusing to be dazzled by social superstitions. They are outraged by every injustice perpetrated upon them or upon others. They grow ever more sensitive to the suffering round them and the restriction registering every convention and taboo imposed upon them." (From: "Was My Life Worth Living?" by Emma Goldman, secti....)


On : of 0 Words

Letter from EG to Dreiser, Theodore, Sep 29, 1926

 Photo by ho visto nina volare, CC BY-SA License

Photo by ho visto nina volare,
CC BY-SA License

Paris, Sept. 29th 1926

Dear Theodore Dreiser

Before you leave Paris I want to let you know how much I have enjoyed the evening with you and thank you for it. I can not begin to tell you how hungry I am for some of the people who have been in my life in America-people who began their struggle almost at the same time with me and whom I have seen grow and do worth while things. To me it was never so important whether these people have chosen the thorny path that was mine, but that they set out to give something out of the ordinary. You are among them and one who has certainly given lasting work. And what is more, you have not stopped growing, that is more than can be said for other of our own generation. It is therefore not idle flattery when I tell you that my heart leaped when I read that you were in Paris and that I might see you.

As you said yourself, I had many people around me who while I was in America showed considerable interest in my work and friendship for me. But the Russian deb[n]ole and the war have shifted all values, most of all the values of integrity and fearlessness. The very people who posed as my friends are now among my bitterest enemies. That is their right. I certainly never asked for anything that could not be given voluntarily and gladly. But that makes my loneliness more poignant. For now I have only very few whom I would call my friends, who really care whether I am dead or alive. I confess I did not think that you were the [many be]? very few because we have been thrown together less than I have been with others. Imagine then my joy to find you so eager and so intensely interested in my struggle and the things I want to do. Really it was a revelation, a bright ray from a dark horizon. It warned me all over and made me feel that I am not so terribly cut off from everything as I thought I was. I can no thank you enough for it dear Theodore Dreiser. No matter whether you will succeed in helping me in the task I have before me, my autobiography, or if you will never be able to so any thing for me, the warm, friendly spirit or Monday night will always remain with me. Thanks old man.

I should be very happy to hear from you occasionally. The American Express Co. Paris, will reach me, later I will send you another address. Be sure to address me always under E Colton.

Please remember me most kindly to Mrs Dreiser. I liked her immensely. Good luck to both of you and a pleasant trip back home.

Cordially,

Emma Goldman

(Source: Emma Goldman Papers Project, U.C. Berkeley.)

From : Anarchy Archives

Chronology

Back to Top
An icon of a book resting on its back.
September 29, 1926
Letter from EG to Dreiser, Theodore, Sep 29, 1926 — Publication.

An icon of a news paper.
January 25, 2017; 7:12:33 PM (UTC)
Added to http://revoltlib.com.

An icon of a red pin for a bulletin board.
December 30, 2021; 11:28:11 AM (UTC)
Updated on http://revoltlib.com.

Image Gallery of Letter from EG to Dreiser, Theodore, Sep 29, 1926

Back to Top

Comments

Back to Top

Login to Comment

0 Likes
0 Dislikes

No comments so far. You can be the first!

Tags

Back to Top

Navigation

Back to Top
<< Last Entry in Anarchism
Current Entry in Anarchism
Letter from EG to Dreiser, Theodore, Sep 29, 1926
Next Entry in Anarchism >>
All Nearby Items in Anarchism
Home|About|Contact|Privacy Policy