Against Miserabilism
Published on 26. October 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
314 pages
978-1-908251-86-2 (ISBN)
Description
Against Miserabilism is a love letter, out of the past, to a new generation of radicals. It's a collection of articles by David Widgery, who, in addition to working as a full-time medical doctor in London's East End, wrote prolifically on matters of political and cultural importance from the 1960s till the time of his death in 1992. Although his articles were written some time ago, in this collection writers who knew him introduce and update his work for today's readers. His commentary on healthcare, Black activism and culture, feminism, other civil rights and the political Left remains relevant. His unique viewpoint as a doctor and a politically active Marxist informs all of his writings.
Reviews / Votes
"Socialists are people too. Their lives are not all about `politics'. Indeed the strength of Widgery's writings is to show how it is only the lived experience of people's lives that makes their politics real. There are only a handful of revolutionary socialists who have ever been able to write convincingly about popular music, about suffering and dying - and indeed self-critically about the successes and failures of the socialist movement itself. It is astonishing to read pieces written 30/40 years ago that are so prescient. This collection is a living memorial to and by one of the finest writers and critics ever produced by the revolutionary left." - Stuart Weir, former editor of the New Statesman (1987-91); founder of the democratic movement Charter 88; "This anthology is as much a historical document as it is of interest as a reflection of the continuity of humanistic left concerns and principles between the 1960s and 1970s and now. It is the work of an inspired individual who is of interest as a doctor and agitator." - Nina Power, writer and academic, senior lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Roehampton, and tutor in Critical Writing in Art & Design at the Royal College of ArtMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Isle of Lewis
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-908251-86-2 (9781908251862)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Politics
Introduction: Anthony Barnett 13
When Harrods is Looted (OZ, 1968) 15
Bertrand Russell (Idiot International, 1970) 24
The Pilkington Strike (INK, 1970) 28
Whatever Did Happen to the Revolution?
(Time Out, 1979) 35
I'm Not Going to Work on Maggie's Farm
(Socialist Worker, 1979) 47
Our Ken (New Society, 1984) 54
Operation Bookbust (Time Out, 1987) 57
Health
Introduction: Anna Livingstone & Kambiz Boomla 61
Death of a Hospital (Socialist Worker, 1974) 66
Blood on the Lino: 24 Hours in Casualty
(Time Out, 1976) 75
The National Health Service: The Great Pyramid
(Socialist Worker, 1979) 75
Meeting Molly (New Society, 1983) 82
Unemployment & Health (Radical Medicine, 1988) 88
A Doctor's Week (Sunday Correspondent, 1989) 92
The Doctor Is Sick (Esquire, 1991) 105
On Black Cultural Politics
Introduction: Ruth Gregory 114
Baldwin (Achilles Heel, 1976) 116
What Is Racism? (Temporary Hoarding, 1977) 129
But How did Biko Die? (Temporary Hoarding, 1979) 133
C.L.R. James (New Society, 1980) 137
Billie and Bessie (The Wire, 1984) 144
Culture in Transit (Black Theatre, 1990) 160
Arts
Introduction: Tony Gould 163
The Kerouac Connection (OZ, 1969) 165
The Streets are Our Palettes
(International Socialism, 1972) 175
William Blake (Socialist Worker, 1971) 189
Enter Stage Left (New Society, 1987) 196
William Carlos Williams
(The Independent Magazine, 1990) 204
Agent in Shot (Gutman), (The Guardian, 1990) 208
Twice Met: Serge & Sedgewick
(Victor Serge Centenary Group Newsletter, 1991) 210
Personal Politics
Introduction: Sheila Rowbotham 213
Women Are Goddesses or Sloppy Beasts (OZ, 1971) 215
Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts? (1972) 224
Sylvia Pankhurst (Radical America, 1974) 231
The Other Love (Gay Left, 1974) 243
Gay Was Good (New Society, 1983) 247
Miscellany
Introduction: Michael Rosen 252
The Eye's Private (Time Out, 1981) 254
Introduction: Anthony Barnett 13
When Harrods is Looted (OZ, 1968) 15
Bertrand Russell (Idiot International, 1970) 24
The Pilkington Strike (INK, 1970) 28
Whatever Did Happen to the Revolution?
(Time Out, 1979) 35
I'm Not Going to Work on Maggie's Farm
(Socialist Worker, 1979) 47
Our Ken (New Society, 1984) 54
Operation Bookbust (Time Out, 1987) 57
Health
Introduction: Anna Livingstone & Kambiz Boomla 61
Death of a Hospital (Socialist Worker, 1974) 66
Blood on the Lino: 24 Hours in Casualty
(Time Out, 1976) 75
The National Health Service: The Great Pyramid
(Socialist Worker, 1979) 75
Meeting Molly (New Society, 1983) 82
Unemployment & Health (Radical Medicine, 1988) 88
A Doctor's Week (Sunday Correspondent, 1989) 92
The Doctor Is Sick (Esquire, 1991) 105
On Black Cultural Politics
Introduction: Ruth Gregory 114
Baldwin (Achilles Heel, 1976) 116
What Is Racism? (Temporary Hoarding, 1977) 129
But How did Biko Die? (Temporary Hoarding, 1979) 133
C.L.R. James (New Society, 1980) 137
Billie and Bessie (The Wire, 1984) 144
Culture in Transit (Black Theatre, 1990) 160
Arts
Introduction: Tony Gould 163
The Kerouac Connection (OZ, 1969) 165
The Streets are Our Palettes
(International Socialism, 1972) 175
William Blake (Socialist Worker, 1971) 189
Enter Stage Left (New Society, 1987) 196
William Carlos Williams
(The Independent Magazine, 1990) 204
Agent in Shot (Gutman), (The Guardian, 1990) 208
Twice Met: Serge & Sedgewick
(Victor Serge Centenary Group Newsletter, 1991) 210
Personal Politics
Introduction: Sheila Rowbotham 213
Women Are Goddesses or Sloppy Beasts (OZ, 1971) 215
Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts? (1972) 224
Sylvia Pankhurst (Radical America, 1974) 231
The Other Love (Gay Left, 1974) 243
Gay Was Good (New Society, 1983) 247
Miscellany
Introduction: Michael Rosen 252
The Eye's Private (Time Out, 1981) 254