Aug 20, 1972 to the finland station a study in the writing and acting of history. L mencken, who is still largely in print and in vogue, but wilson so towers over all of his contemporaries that it is indeed mysterious that he has fallen into relative obscurity both as a writer and as a critic, as. Edmund wilson books list of books by author edmund wilson. It is more favorable to marxism than i am, but it is wellwritten and probably quite objective. Edmund wilson 8 may 1895 12 june 1972 was an american writer and literary critic. A study in the writing and acting of history is the most famous book by the american critic and historian edmund wilson. Edmund wilson has suffered the same fate as the book, which is equally as curious. One of the great works of modern historical writing, the classic account of the ideas, people, and politics that led to the bolshevik revolution edmund wilson s to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution up through lenins. Edmund wilsons remarkable 1940 book, to the finland station. To the finland station one of the great works of modern historical writing, the classic account of the ideas, people, and politics that led to the bolshevik revolution edmund wilson s to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution.
None of the eulogies for edmund wilson has mentioned what seems to. Scott fitzgerald, whose unfinished work he edited for publication. Over his long career, he wrote for vanity fair, helped edit the new republic, served as chief book critic for the new yorker, and was a frequent contributor to the new york. Dec 01, 2000 edmund wilson s magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power in 1917. Fueled by wilsons own passionate engagement with the ideas and politics at play, it is a lively. The book, which was published in 1940, is called a classic and is described as a. Books by edmund wilson author of to the finland station.
A study in the writing and acting of history 1940 is a book by american critic and historian edmund wilson. Much of these two books originally appeared in the pages of the new republic. Edmund wilsons magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power. Of course, he was not as notorious as literary figure as one of his 20th century colleagues, h. A study in the acting and writing of history fsg classics wilson. Dec 29, 2009 all aboard historical thriller finland station author aravind adiga was not interested in stuffy classics or long, drawnout historical accounts. Fueled by wilsons own passionate engagement with the ideas and politics at play, it is a lively and. But when he went to russia, wilson quickly realized that the soviet union was far from being a classless society, and stalin, as he described him in to the finland station, was a terrifying barbarian. Edmund wilsons magnum opus, to the finland station, is a s. Edmund wilsons to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution up through lenins arrival at finland station in st.
Edmund wilson 1895 1972 is widely regarded as the preeminent american man of letters of the twentieth century. In fact it might be defined as a biography of revolution, the formation of revolutionary ideas, their presentation and their fulfillment. Edmund wilson s most popular book is to the finland station. Edmund wilsons to the finland station is a history of communism from michelet to lenin. Second it is a firsthand account of the efforts by marx and engels to start a communist revolution. Edmund wilson edmund wilson is the author of books such as to the finland station. To the finland station by edmund wilson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Over his long career, he wrote for vanity fair, helped edit the new republic, served as chief book critic for the new yorker, and was a frequent. The work presents the history of revolutionary thought and the birth of socialism, from the french revolution through the collaboration of marx and engels to the arrival of lenin at the finlyandsky rail terminal in st. In to the finland station, wilson portrays marx, engels, and lenin as revolutionary heroes who brilliantly combined history, analysis, and a program for social action. Buy to the finland station by wilson, edmund from amazons fiction books store. One of the great works of modern historical writing, the classic account of the ideas, people, and politics that led to the bolshevik revolution. Edmund wilson s to the finland station is the plutarchs lives of historys bravest liberals, also the history of socialist economic theory. A study in the writing and acting of history, by edmund wilson read 6 oct 1970 this is an account of communism up to apr 16, 1917, when lenin arrived at petrograd.
Nov 17, 2001 wilson didnt just bring marx to literary criticism. Edmund wilson s to the finland station is intellectual history on a grand scale, full of romance, idealism, intrigue, and conspiracy, that traces the revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world from the french revolution up through lenins arrival at finland station in st. To the finland station a study in the writing and acting of history. In his book to the finland station 1940, wilson studied the course of european socialism, from the 1824 discovery by jules michelet of the ideas of vico culminating in the 1917 arrival of vladimir lenin at the finland station of saint petersburg to lead the bolsheviks in the russian revolution. His scheme for a library of america series of national classic works came to fruition through the efforts. Edmund wilsons most popular book is to the finland station. To the finland station begins with the enlightenment and ends with lenin and the russian revolution. Edmund wilson books biography and list of works author of. Edmund wilson has 116 books on goodreads with 30476 ratings. In a sense, one can never read the book that the author originally wrote, and one can never read the same book twice. The first third of the book deals with michelet and his followers, renan, taine and france, who were to usher in the decline of enlightenment and.
First it is a history of the idea of a marxist interpretation of history. During this period, wilson was married for a time to writer mary mccarthy. He has a firm grasp of his subject matter and presents it with style and zest. What russia had represented to the young wilson was the possibility of a literary cultureand so, when t. The idea for to the finland station came to edmund wilson while he was walking down a street in the east fifties one day, in the depths of the great depression. Studies in the literature of the american civil war, and more on. The portable edmund wilson 1983, also edited by lewis dabney, gathered work that was representative of wilsons remarkable career.
It was not the best moment for a book whose hero is vladimir lenin. Finland station today, as soon as we are a little way into the book. One such book is edmund wilsons to the finland station. To the finland station paperback january 1, 1968 by edmund wilson author. I spent a lot of time in jazz clubs, nursing the twobeer minimum. It is a work of history on a grand scale, at once sweeping and detailed, closely reasoned and passionately argued, that succeeds. To the finland station society for us intellectual history. It is basically a chronological survey of the development of socialist ideas.
To the finland station by edmund wilson, 9780374533458, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Some of his many books included axels castle 1931, memoirs of hecate county 1946, the scrolls from the dead sea 1955 and patriotic gore 1962. His more than twenty books include axels castle, patriotic gore, to the finland station, and memoirs of hecate coun. The sub title indicates the scope of this acute and well ordered study of revolution, in theory and in action. A study in the acting and writing of history fsg classics edmund wilson. Oct 14, 2011 to the finland station by edmund wilson. See all books authored by edmund wilson, including to the finland station, and patriotic gore. Louis menand discussed the life and work of edmund wilson, author of to the finland station. The portrait of lenin is a bit idealized, but is representative of edmund wilson was a polymathic literary critic. Edmund wilson 18951972 was an american writer and critic. The idea for to the finland station came to edmund wilson while he. Like the du bois and james books, to the finland station did not. His next major book, to the finland station 1940, was a historical study of the thinkers who laid the groundwork for socialism and the russian revolution of 1917. Well thats not exactly correctthis book is many books rolled into one.
Everything in this book which those men dreamed up, ended up being george bernard shaws dream and shortly afterwards, fdrs contribution. Did alfred kazin write a moving memoir, new york jew, about the literary life of the forties through the sixties. Wilson was the author of more than twenty books, including axels castle, patriotic gore, and a work of fiction, memoirs of hecate county. Edmund wilson s magnum opus, to the finland station, is a stirring account of revolutionary politics, people, and ideas from the french revolution through the paris commune to the bolshevik seizure of power in 1917. To the finland station by edmund wilson librarything. Edmund wilson may 8, 1895 june 12, 1972 was an american writer and critic who explored freudian and marxist themes. To the finland station slowly but surely gained readers in the years after 1947, perhaps due to wilsons growing reputation as a left critic of the soviet unionwilson wrote a new introduction to the 1972 edition of the book published by farrar, strauss and giroux in which he argued that the path from lenin to stalin was fated.
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