Edward Carpenter 1844–1929
Prophet of Human Fellowship

This is the first full-scale biography of Edward Carpenter, an 'eminent Victorian' who played an intriguing role in the revival of Socialism in Britain in the late nineteenth century.

Chushichi Tsuzuki (Author)

9780521019590, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 15 September 2005

260 pages
23 x 15.5 x 1.6 cm, 0.419 kg

This is the first full-scale biography of Edward Carpenter, an 'eminent Victorian' who played an intriguing role in the revival of Socialism in Britain in the late nineteenth century. 'A worthy heir of Carlyle and Ruskin', as Tolstoy called him, Carpenter tackled boldly the problems of alienation under the pressures of commercial civilisation, and developed a strongly personalised brand of Socialism which inspired both the Labour Party and its enemies, Syndicalism and Anarchism. A homosexual, he grappled with the problems of sexual alienation above all, and emerged as the foremost advocate of the homosexual cause at a time when it was a social 'taboo'. This study, based upon letters and many other personal documents, reveals much of Carpenter's personal life which has hitherto remained obscure, including his 'comradeship' with some of his working-men friends and his influence upon such notable literary figures as Siegfried Sassoon, E. M. Forster and D. H. Lawrence.

List of illustrations
Preface
Introduction
1. The Brighton childhood
2. A Cambridge liberal
3. A lecturer for the people
4. Towards democracy
5. The Socialist revival
6. Sheffield workers and Millthorpians
7. Labour and civilisation
8. Labour and Anarchism
9. Journey to the East
10. Humanitarianism and larger Socialism
11. The sublimination of homosexuality
12. George Merrill
13. Literature and sex
14. Critical years
15. The Great War
16. Last years
Epilogue
Notes
List of works by Edward Carpenter
Index.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]