LYONE who thought at the sole characterof early British cialism either WCle e pragmatism of Keir ardie or the hopeless actarianism of Hyndan would do well to ad the works of Edard Carpenter.
They will be astonished his breadth of socialist sion, his analysis of the pression of women, of omosexuality, his derstanding of the ways which social «ooomic qucsuons are Ill ariwined capitalist aety. and how the freeof the working economic slavery therefore inseparable om the struggle for the cration of women, lesns and gays.
But although he con¡"tcl WIILC untll his tath in 1929, the revoluonary and all-embracing ture of his socialism was cady completely out of with the parlamennarrow-mindedness of the labour movement. His disappearance public view and knowledge was rapid and inevitable.
Reviewed by Peter Purton Another teature made Carpenter stand out: not Only was ne gay, OL ONV did he set up house openly with gay lovers (admittedly on a remote Derbyshire farm), but he also wrote vigorously on une 1a000 subjects of sexuality and human relatlolls. despite the anti-gay hysteria following the trial of Oscar Wilde.
This collection carries two major texts: Love's Coming he Ane (1896), The termediate Sex (1906). These works have an interest beyond illustrating his advanced thinking. Thev represent insights in. to the relationship between the personal and the as developed as he theories of today's women gay movements.
Carpenter is particularly strong on the role of sex in human relationships. His thoughts homosexuality hidebound by the then prevalent theory of lesians and gays an intermediate, or third, sex. But clear that he begins to break through this barrier to observe the universality of homosexuality and the potential for IL n some measue m aos! human beings.
Edward Carpenter's writings (and Noe! Greig's introduction) can infuriate a Marxist because of their leaning towards a romanticised and anarchistic vision and language. But ig nore weakness Carpenter saw sexual liberation as something to be fought for now, and an integral parl or tne class struggle. Buy this ana broaden your mınd!
Edward Carpenter: Selected Writings, Volume 1: Sex, Gay Mens Press, £5.95.
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Scargill and others, dubb ed onto a scratch backing track. Every socialist should be blasting it out on Cansunds arowl out the Nation's Number
THE GLC IS spending £853 million at the moment.
package of cuts is demanded of us.
£93 million worth of reserves we could use. haven't said where they're coming from! Our financial experts tell us there are none.
are callof cots. 141 million worth CULS Their budget includes £5 a week council rent increases withdrawal of grants to all the voluntary agencies, laying off 1000 Tre fighters, sacking about 2000 of our own staff.
Not only do we want to maintain spending at f853 million, but our budget in£100 The government target is £785 million. A £68 million In addition, the government considers we've got They party to replace them. The London regional executive ports non-compliance, recommending the tactic budget, but, because thev ve col do reserve.ls the equivalent of not setThey would ung a lale. run out of money in days, HOL MOULIS The London has reconvened regional January which will have the opportunity to mandate councillors and demonstrate the support of the for non-compliance.
A latelution mas bec, circulated Hayes and Harlington, to all calling on the Labour group to ix a rate. There's not to fix a rate. already a ground-swell of Socialist Action 21 December 1984
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