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Title: Peter Kropotkin: An Appreciation
Author: Varlam Cherkezishvili
Date: 1912: Freedom (December 1912): 92-3
Language: en
Topics: Peter Kropotkin, appreciation
Source: Scanned from Anarchist Studies 29.2 (Fall, 2021)

Varlam Cherkezishvili

Peter Kropotkin: An Appreciation

All over the world our Anarchist comrades have decided to celebrate the

seventieth birthday of their beloved comrade and teacher, Peter

Kropotkin.

If among living authors and Socialists any one deserves such a general

demonstration of veneration and love, it is certainly Kropotkin, one of

the greatest characters of our generation, and the real glory of his

native land, Russia.

In my long life as Socialist and revolutionist, I have had the

opportunity to meet many gifted and exceptional people, excelling by

knowledge or talent, and distinguished by greatness of character. I knew

even heroic men and women, as well as people with the stamp of genius on

them. But Kropotkin stands out as a most conspicuous, strongly defined

character even in that gallery of noble fighters for humanitarian ideals

and intellectual liberation.

Kropotkin possesses in delightful harmony the qualities of a true

inductive scientist and evolutionary philosopher with the greatness of a

Socialist thinker and fighter inspired by the highest ideals of social

justice. At the same time, by his temperament he is undoubtedly one of

the most ardent and fearless propagandists of the Social Revolution, and

of the complete emancipation of working humanity by its own initiative

and efforts. And all these qualities are united in Kropotkin so closely

and intimately that one cannot separate Kropotkin the scientist from

Kropotkin the Socialist and revolutionist.

As scientist – geographer and geologist – Kropotkin is known by his

theory of the formation of mountain chains and high plateaus, a theory

now proved and accepted by science, and in recognition of which the

mountains of Eastern Siberia explored by him have been named the

Kropotkin Mountains.

As naturalist and inductive thinker on evolution, Kropotkin has earned

undying glory and admiration by his ‘Mutual Aid’, a work which shows his

vast knowledge as a naturalist and sociologist. The author gives us new

powerful arguments for the principle of solidarity as a factor of

evolution not only in human society but also in the animal world.

One of the most striking works by Kropotkin – I may even say classical

in its form, deep knowledge, brilliant argumentation, and noble purpose

– is his ‘Fields, Factories, and Workshop’. Here, with facts and

figures, he shows to toiling humanity the abundance of produce

obtainable, the comforts and pleasures of life possible, if physical and

intellectual work are combined, if agriculture and industry go hand in

hand. I think that during the last quarter of a century no book has

appeared that is so invigorating, so encouraging and convincing to those

who work for a happier society. No wonder that a London democratic

weekly advised its readers to buy this book by all means, even if they

had to pawn their last shirt to raise the shilling.

Kropotkin as a Communist Anarchist and revolutionist ... but who of our

readers does not know his numerous and inimitable writings on the

Revolution, on Anarchist Communism, etc.? Here I will not dwell on those

books; I have another aim in this article. I will attempt to give you an

idea of the personal character, the charming individuality of the author

of all those splendid books. First of all let me try to sketch Kropotkin

at work.

I often ask myself if there exists another man equal to Kropotkin in

quickness, intensity, punctuality, and variety of work. It is simply

amazing what he is capable of doing in a single day. He reads incredibly

much, in English, French, German and Russian, with minute interest he

follows political and social events, science and literature, and

especially the Anarchist movement of the whole world. His study, with

its book-lined walls, has piles of papers, new books, etc., on the

floor, tables and chairs. And all this material, if not read, is at

least looked through, often annotated; parts are cut out, classified,

and put away in boxes and portfolios made by himself. Kropotkin, as a

recreation, used to occupy himself with carpentry and bookbinding; but

now confines himself to the latter, and to the making of cartons for his

notes. Whatever he does, he does quickly and with great exactitude; his

notes and extracts are made with the speed of a stenographer, and all

his work is done with beautiful neatness and correctness.

To give an idea of the variety of his work, I shall describe my last

visit to Kropotkin. I went with a French scientist, also a great worker

and a sincere admirer of Kropotkin. We found him in his study, hard at

work, giving the last touches to a new edition of his ‘Fields,

Factories, and Workshops’. One side of his table was covered with the

French proofs of ‘La Science Moderne et L’Anarchie’. There was also the

glossary in English for the coming FREEDOM edition of the same book. On

a small table a half-finished article on Syndicalism was lying, and a

pile of letters, some of them twelve pages, exchanged with an old friend

and comrade of the Federation Jurassienne, and dealing with the origin

of Syndicalism, awaited an answer. Newpapers and books everywhere;

volumes and separate articles on Bakunin were about, as Kropotkin is at

present editing a complete Russian edition of Bakunin’s works. Between

all these things, vigorous, alive, active as a young man, smiling

heartily, Kropotkin himself. And people try to convince us that he is

tired and must rest! ‘Nonsense’, said my French friend; ‘this is not an

old and tired man; he is more alive than many a young man of our present

generation!’ And really with his overflowing activity and spirits he

animates the whole household.

Of course, it is only natural that a man of his learning and many-sided

development is much sought after. Specialists and scientists, political

and literary people, painters and musicians, and especially Socialist

and Anarchist comrades and Russian revolutionists, are visitors to his

house, and charmed by his straightforward simplicity and wholehearted

interest. Even children are at once captivated, not only by his fatherly

goodness, but by his capacity to share their enjoyment by playing for

and with them, arousing their delighted amazement by his juggling tricks

and representations.

At the end of the day, when the household has gone to rest, Kropotkin,

with his usual consideration for those who have worked, moves about the

house like a mouse, tiptoeing so as not to disturb those asleep, even if

only the servant has gone to bed. Often he has whispered to me to be

careful not to awaken her. Lighting his candle, he retires to his own

room, sometimes till midnight, reading new publications for which he

could not find time during the day. It is not astonishing that all those

who come in contact with him love and adore him.

But there is another side to his character. Kropotkin, the political and

social thinker, the revolutionist, the Anarchist Communist, with the

fiery temperament of a fighter, with his inflexible principles, his

insight into political and social problems, is yet more marvellous; he

sees further, he understands better, he formulates clearer than any of

his contemporaries. Few people feel so deeply and acutely the suffering

and injustice of others, and he cannot rest until he has done all in his

power to protest and help. From 1881, when he was expelled from

Switzerland for having organised a meeting to protest against the

execution of [Sofia] Perovskaya and her comrades, up till recently, when

he feverishly wrote his ‘Terror in Russia’, that crushing act of

accusation against the Tsar’s wholesale murder and torture, he has

always been the indefatigable defender of all the victims of social and

political injustice.

Such is, in a few lines, Kropotkin the Anarchist, the scientist, and,

above all, the man; beloved by his comrades and friends, respected and

admired by all honest people of all countries.