Edmund wilson s to the finland station is a history of communism from michelet to lenin. Fiction for adults and children as well as nonfiction sold 35 per cent less, whereas textbooks sold 4 per cent more, as did paperbacks, 2 per cent. He thought that history had a design, and that the depression was an event fully comprehensible within the context of that design. First it is a history of the idea of a marxist interpretation of history. Edmund wilson, often considered to be the greatest american literary critic of the twentieth century, reflects back on life in his sixth decade with this insightful intellectual. The evocation is successful because when wilson began writing to the finland station he believed in history, too. The station formerly contained a special pavilion for russian royalty. Edmund wilsons to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution up through lenins arrival at finland station in st. A study in the writing and acting of history 1940 is a book by american critic and historian edmund wilson. It was designed by swedish architects and opened in 1870. The first third of the book deals with michelet and his followers, renan, taine and france, who were to usher in the decline of enlightenment and. A study in the writing and acting of history new ed by wilson, edmund isbn. Edmund wilson s most popular book is to the finland station.
Dec 29, 2009 all aboard historical thriller finland station author aravind adiga was not interested in stuffy classics or long, drawnout historical accounts. In 1935, when he was beginning work on to the finland station, he had tried to persuade dos passos that stalin was a true marxist, working for socialism in russia. Oct 14, 2011 the sub title indicates the scope of this acute and well ordered study of revolution, in theory and in action. Edmund wilson s magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power in 1917. From the finland station by george lichtheim the new york. Edmund wilson has 116 books on goodreads with 30386 ratings. To the finland station ebook by edmund wilson 9781466899667. One of the great works of modern historical writing, the classic account of the ideas, people, and politics that led to the. All aboard historical thriller finland station author aravind adiga was not interested in stuffy classics or long, drawnout historical accounts. A study in the writing and acting of history, by edmund wilson read 6 oct 1970 this is an account of communism up to apr 16, 1917, when lenin arrived at petrograd. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
One day in the january of 1824, a young french professor named jules michelet, who was teaching philosophy and history, found the name of giovanni vico in a translators note to a book he was reading. Lenin arrived at finland station 100 years ago today, reshaping bolshevik strategy and the course of the russian revolution. To the finland station by edmund wilson waterstones. One of the great works of modern historical writing, the classic account of the ideas, people, and politics that led to the bolshevik revolution edmund wilson s to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution up through lenins. Wilson looks at the different people and their theories beginning with jules michelet who was fascinated with the processes. This page contains details about the nonfiction book to the finland station by edmund wilson published in 1940. Dec 01, 2000 edmund wilson s magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power in 1917. It is a work of history on a grand scale, at once sweeping and detailed, closely reasoned and passionately argued, that succeeds in painting an unforgettable picturealive with conspirators and philosophers, utopians and nihilistsof the making of the modern world. Critical and historical study of european writers and theorists of. Well thats not exactly correctthis book is many books rolled into one. Read to the finland station a study in the acting and writing of history by edmund wilson available from rakuten kobo.
In a sense, one can never read the book that the author originally wrote, and one can never read the same book twice. To the finland station by edmund wilson the 367th greatest. Edmund wilsons magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the. Edmund wilsons most popular book is to the finland station. Author of axels castle, to the finland station, the wound and the bow, memoirs of hecate county, a diary from dixie, the triple thinkers, patriotic gore, the american earthquake edmund wilson. It is more favorable to marxism than i am, but it is wellwritten and probably quite objective. From the author of to the finland station comes a deeply personal and incisive memoir, a piece of my mind. Browse through our ebooks while discovering great authors and exciting books in finnish. In fact it might be defined as a biography of revolution, the formation of revolutionary ideas, their presentation and their fulfillment. Fueled by wilsons own passionate engagement with the ideas and politics at play, it is a lively and vivid, sweeping account of a singular ideathat it is possible to construct a society based on. To the finland station by edmund wilson librarything. A postage stamp that references the aleksis kivi classic seven brothers.
Topics socialism, marxism, revolution, history collection opensource language english. Dec 15, 2009 to the finland station by edmund wilson, 1960, fontana edition, in english. To the finland station is a work of history on a grand scale, at once sweeping and detailed, closely reasoned and passionately argued, that succeeds in painting an unforgettable picture alive with conspirators and philosophers, utopians and nihilists of the making of the modern world. The sixties the last journal, 19601972 by edmund wilson illustrated. Edmund wilson 8 may 1895 12 june 1972 was an american writer and literary critic. The work presents the history of revolutionary thought and the birth of socialism, from the french revolution through the collaboration of marx and engels to the arrival of lenin at the finlyandsky rail terminal in st. To the finland station edmund wilsons adventure with.
By the time his book came out, wilson himself had stopped trying to defend the soviet experiment. A study in the writing and acting of history is a book by american critic and historian edmund wilson. To the finland station is a sympathetic history of revolutionary socialist thought from the french revolution to the moment in. Wilson, edmund to the finland station a study in the.
Edmund wilsons to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of. Edmund wilson s to the finland station is the plutarchs lives of historys bravest liberals, also the history of socialist economic theory. The station was owned and operated by finnish railways until early 1918. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Because it makes marxist theory, aims and tactics intelligible to any literate nonmarxist mind, to the finland station is an invaluable book. Wilson took six years to write his academic tourdeforce, and in an age of historical amnesia, to.
Apr 30, 2003 edmund wilson s magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power in 1917. This book is the 367th greatest nonfiction book of all time as determined by. Buy to the finland station by edmund wilson online at alibris. Books by edmund wilson author of to the finland station. Our new print issue, political revolution, is out now. A study in the acting and writing of history fsg classics. Everything in this book which those men dreamed up, ended up being george bernard shaws dream and shortly afterwards, fdrs contribution.
Here are ten of your favourite finnish books, as selected by thisisfinland readers. Edmund wilsons magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power in 1917. To the finland station, by edmund wilson, traces the development of revolutionary thought and politics from the period of the french revolution to the russian revolution. The plucky finns face up to challenges from an old foe. A short history of the russian revolution by joel carmichael. Second it is a firsthand account of the efforts by marx and engels to start a communist revolution.
To the finland station society for us intellectual history. To the finland station, his brilliantly idiosyncratic history of revolutionary. To the finland station, critical and historical study by edmund wilson of european writers and theorists of socialism who set the stage for the russian revolution of 1917. The finns active cultural life is especially evidenced by. Finland station was built by finnish state railways as the eastern terminus of the riihimakisaint petersburg railway.
A history of revolutionary thought and the birth of socialism, from the french revolution through the collaboration of marx and engels to the arrival of lenin at the finland station in st petersburg in 1917. It was published in book form in 1940, although much of the material had previously appeared in the new republic. The idea for to the finland station came to edmund wilson while he was walking down a street in the east fifties one day, in the depths of the great depression. We asked fans to vote for their favourite finnish book. Edmund wilsons to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces. Just in time by andras gyorgy 30 november 2007 there is fortunate timing to the library of americas bringing out in. This is an undated image made available by the world wildlife fund finland of a saimaa ringed seal as it rests on. To the finland station critical and historical study by wilson. Edmund wilson s to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution up through lenins arrival at finland station in st. Edmund wilsons to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary. Upon its publication in 1940, time magazine immediately recognized wilson s intellectual history.
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