The three years covered by this anthology represent the only time in Mikhail Bakunin s life when he was able to concentrate on his work and sustain a consistent output of speeches and writings. Only one of these texts has appeared before in an unabridged English translation. All dating from the period of Bakunin s propaganda on behalf of the First International, they thus belong to a period central to Bakunin s anarchism and mark the height of his influence during his lifetime.

Robert M. Cutler s introduction traces the development of selected themes in Bakunin s pre-anarchist thought--beginning with his acquaintanceship with German idealist philosophy-- through his anarchist period. In this way it reconstructs Bakunin s concept of the role of the International in the revolutionary movement and provides a new interpretation of his theory and practice of revolutionary organization. The chronology and annotated bibliography make this collection an ideal introduction to Bakunin and a useful reference work for specialists.