José Peirats
Encyclopedia
José Peirats Valls was a Spanish anarchist
, activist, journalist and historian.
Peirats was born in the province of Valencia
. He had a limited schooling in one of the working class rationalist schools which offered an alternative to mainstream education controlled by the clergy and state. Thus he developed a thirst for learning which never left him. For many years he worked as a tile-maker, and devoted himself to the anarchist movement.
Peirats came to anarchism
after moving in his early years to Barcelona
. He was a long-standing member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
(CNT) and at one point edited its newspaper, Solidaridad Obrera
('Workers Solidarity'). He was also a member of the federation of anarchist affinity groups, the Federación Anarquista Ibérica
(FAI).
As a historian of the Spanish anarchist movement, Peirats produced an important three volume study of the libertarian movement in the Spanish Civil War, La CNT en la revolución española. A one volume abridgement, Anarchists in the Spanish Revolution was printed by Black and Red. An English translation of the full three volume work was published by Stuart Christie
, edited by Chris Ealham. The first two volumes were published in 2001 and 2005 respectively; the third volume was published in 2006.
Peirats papers are held by the International Institute of Social History
in Amsterdam
.
Anarchism in Spain
Anarchism has historically gained more support and influence in Spain than anywhere else, especially before Francisco Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939....
, activist, journalist and historian.
Peirats was born in the province of Valencia
Valencia (province)
Valencia or València is a province of Spain, in the central part of the Valencian Community.It is bordered by the provinces of Alicante, Albacete, Cuenca, Teruel, Castellón, and the Mediterranean Sea...
. He had a limited schooling in one of the working class rationalist schools which offered an alternative to mainstream education controlled by the clergy and state. Thus he developed a thirst for learning which never left him. For many years he worked as a tile-maker, and devoted himself to the anarchist movement.
Peirats came to anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
after moving in his early years to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He was a long-standing member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo is a Spanish confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions affiliated with the International Workers Association . When working with the latter group it is also known as CNT-AIT...
(CNT) and at one point edited its newspaper, Solidaridad Obrera
Solidaridad Obrera (periodical)
Solidaridad Obrera is a newspaper, published by the Catalonian/Balearic regional section of the anarchist labor union Confederación Nacional del Trabajo , and mouthpiece of the CNT in Spain....
('Workers Solidarity'). He was also a member of the federation of anarchist affinity groups, the Federación Anarquista Ibérica
Federación Anarquista Ibérica
The Federación Anarquista Ibérica is a Spanish organization of anarchist militants active within affinity groups inside the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo trade union. It is often abbreviated as CNT-FAI because of the close relationship between the two organizations...
(FAI).
As a historian of the Spanish anarchist movement, Peirats produced an important three volume study of the libertarian movement in the Spanish Civil War, La CNT en la revolución española. A one volume abridgement, Anarchists in the Spanish Revolution was printed by Black and Red. An English translation of the full three volume work was published by Stuart Christie
Stuart Christie
Stuart Christie is a Scottish anarchist writer and publisher. Christie is best known for being arrested as an 18-year old while carrying explosives to assassinate the Spanish dictator General Franco. He was later alleged to be a member of the Angry Brigade, but was acquitted of related charges...
, edited by Chris Ealham. The first two volumes were published in 2001 and 2005 respectively; the third volume was published in 2006.
Peirats papers are held by the International Institute of Social History
International Institute of Social History
The International Institute of Social History is a historical research institute in Amsterdam. It was founded in 1935 by Nicolaas Posthumus. The IISG is part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences....
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Works
- Anarchists in the Spanish Revolution. London : Freedom Press, 1990. ISBN 0900384530.
- The CNT in the Spanish Revolution. ChristieBooks, Hastings, 2005: ISBN 1901172058 (vol. 1); ISBN 1873976240 (vol. 2); [2006]: ISBN 1873976291 (vol.3).
External links
- José Peirats in the Daily Bleed's Anarchist Encyclopedia
- José Peirats Valls Papers.