A Short History of Anarchism

Max Nettlau was the most proficient, and still is the most important, chronicler of anarchism. This one volume (at 400 pages) introduction to the history of anarchist ideas and early movements, summarizing the author's monumental 9-volume history and several biographies, is the most reliable guide. The 18 chapters cover the precursors of anarchism, the history of ideas like individualist anarchism, Proudhonism and revolutionary syndicalism, and the history of the world anarchist movement up to 1930. There are bibliographies of periodicals and of books. The editor has added a guide to Nettlau's work, and expanded the index to include brief biographical details of the individuals mentioned.