Paul Avrich, 74, a Historian of Anarchism, Is Dead
NY Times
Paul Avrich, a historian of the anarchist movement that played a role in the Russian Revolution and flourished in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries, died on Feb. 16 at Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 74 and lived in Manhattan.
The cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, said his wife, Ina Avrich.
Named distinguished professor of history at Queens College in 1982, Dr. Avrich, whose field was Russian history, wrote 10 books, mainly about anarchism, the belief that society is better off without the constraints of government.
Dr. Avrich became the confidant of well-known figures in the anarchist movement.
“He considered himself a scholar, teacher and chronicler of the movement and had great sympathy and affection for them,” his wife said. Dr. Avrich took issue with the prevalent image of the anarchist as violent and amoral.
“Every good person deep down is an anarchist,” he was quoted as saying in the announcement by Queens College of his elevation to distinguished professor. Three of the 20th century’s literary giants, James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Eugene O’Neill, were anarchists in their youth, Dr. Avrich said, and he had hoped to write a book about O’Neill.
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