Jean Grave and the Networks of French Anarchism, 1854-1939

This book explores the life of Jean Grave, one of the leading figures of the early twentieth-century French and international anarchist movement. It offers a new approach to understanding the activist networks through which the ideas and writings of Grave and his contemporaries were shared. Unlike other biographies of Grave, this book focuses on these personal and activist relationships, and the workings of these groups, circles and networks - from the very local to the global. Based predominantly in Paris, Grave can be seen as a remarkable example of immobile transnationalism, in which a very active and thriving print culture served as the prime medium for supporting contacts. Presenting a new perspective on Grave's life, the author presents a re-reading of the French anarchist movement in the years leading up to, during and after the First World War. It offers a new methodological approach to researching the history of political networks, particularly in their transnational ramifications, their role in the formation of social movements and activism, and their interplay with print culture.