ABC With Danny and Jim

In this episode we’re marking the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of both the Spanish Civil War and the Spanish Revolution of July 1936, by discussing Vernon Richard’s classic Lessons of the Spanish Revolution, originally published by Freedom Press in 1953. This book provides an highly critical account of the decisions made by figures within the movement in Spain by a contemporary anarchist, and it continues to provoke debates about what happened, and what went wrong, in the turbulent early months of war and revolution 90 years ago. Lessons from the Spanish Revolution is available as aPDF from libcom.org here: files.libcom.org/files/lessons-spanish-revolution.pdfThe journal Spain and the World, edited by Richards,is available from The Freedom Press here: https://freedomnews.org.uk/archive/#archive1930s--------------------------------Danny and Jim will both be speaking about anarchism, Spainand revolution at the Radical History Zone event organised by the Bristol Radical History Group during the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair. This event is being held at Central Friends Meeting House in Champion Square from 10.30 to16.30, more information here: https://www.brh.org.uk/site/event-series/radical-history-zone-at-the-bristol-anarchist-bookfair/ ---------------------------------------You can keep in touch with the podcast our email:[email protected],and our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you enjoy this podcast, do tell your friends, colleaguesand comrades to listen. You can keep in touch with the podcast our email:[email protected],and our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you enjoy this podcast, do tell your friends, colleaguesand comrades to listen. The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & RafaelDionísio,'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka MusicSharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left BookClublogo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The image in this episode is the cover of the original 1953Freedom Press edition of Lessons of the Spanish Revolution.  

In this episode we’re delighted to be joined by Maurice J.Casey, a research fellow at Queens University Belfast and author of Hotel Lux: An Intimate History of Communism's Forgotten Radicals, which was published by Footnote in 2025. Hotel Lux is a fascinating, moving account of the lives of women and men who travelled to Moscow in the 1920s to work for the Comintern. We really enjoyed both reading and talking through the book with Maurice, exploring how the book came about, and ideas of friendship, tragedy, hope and memory. In March 2026 Maurice produced a documentary for the BBC about The Alpenpost, an incredible source that he discovered during his research for the book. You can listen to it here: BBC Radio 4 - Illuminated, The Alpenpost: A Girl's Guide to Fighting Hitler and Stalin--------------------------------------------------------------You can keep in touch with the podcast our email: [email protected],and our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you enjoy this podcast, do tell your friends, colleagues and comrades to listen. The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & RafaelDionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Clublogo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The image in this episode is the cover of Maurice’s fantastic book.  

In this episode we’re discussing Tomas Rothaus’s Another War is Possible (PM Press, 2025) an account of the movement against capitalism over the turn of the 21st century, written by an anarchist participant in the events. You can listen to an interview with Rothaus on Last Straw Radio here: Militant Anarchist Experiences in the Antiglobalization Era | The Final Straw Radio Podcast---------------------------------------------------------------You can keep in touch with the podcast our [email protected], and our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you enjoy this podcast, do tell your friends, colleagues and comrades to listen. The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & RafaelDionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Clublogo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The image in this episode is a photograph fromthe insurrection which accompanied the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001 .

In this episode we’re discussing Blood in the Machine by Brian Merchant, published in 2023 by Little, Brown and Company. Blood in the Machine is an account of the Luddite rebellion in early 19th century England. Merchant's engaging study draws parallels between this account and contemporary questions about the effects of automation, big tech and AI, as well as efforts to resist and challenge the degradation of working conditions and society in general. ---------------------------------------------------------------We have now fully decamped from Twitter, but you can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoy this podcast, do tell others about it: nothing really compares to a recommendation from a friend, colleague or comrade. The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The image in this episode is a statue of a Luddite cropper and his daughter, which was erected in Liversage (West Yorkshire), 200 years after the attack on Cartwright Mills, an event which features prominently in Blood in the Machine.

In this episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Andy Durgan, a historian who has lived in Barcelona since 1982, and author of several books about the revolutionary left and International volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, including Voluntarios por la revoución, which will be published in English later this year. We spoke to Andy about his role as historical advisor to Ken Loach’s film Land and Freedom, one of the most significant films about the Spanish Civil War, which was released 30 years ago this summer. The film is currently available to watch on YouTube here: Land and Freedom (1995 Ken Loach) [ENG Sub] ---------------------------------------------------------------We have now fully decamped from Twitter, but you can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoy this podcast, do tell others about it: nothing really compares to a recommendation from a friend, colleague or comrade. The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The image in this episode is the original poster for Land and Freedom.

In this episode we are joined by Carolyn Eichner, Professor of History and Women's and Gender Studies at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, to discuss her brilliant book The Paris Commune: A Brief History (Rutgers University Press, 2022). We hope you enjoy this conversation, which ranges from the origins of the Commune to its legacy in France and the contemporary world, and includes discussion of the role of women, the nature of political power and the threat of repression during the 72-days of upheaval and revolution in Paris. ---------------------------------------------------------------We have now fully decamped from Twitter, but you can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoy this podcast, do tell others about it: nothing really compares to a recommendation from a friend, colleague or comrade. The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The image in this episode is the battery of cannons on Montmartre in March 1871, which was the scene for the outbreak of revolutionary uprising in Paris.

In this episode we are discussing Cybernetic Revolutionaries by Eden Medina (MIT Press, 2011), which examines the effort to create a cybernetic system of communication and industrial management during the socialist government of Salvador Allende in Chile, from 1970 to 1973. Medina uses this fascinating case study to explore the relationship of two utopian visions: one socialist, and one technological, embodied in figures such as British cybernetics pioneer Stafford Beer and Fernando Flores, a member of Allende’s government and advocate of Beer’s ideas. Links to references in the episode: La Batalla de Chile Elizabeth Stainforth and Jo Lindsay Walton, 'Computing Utopia: The Horizons of Computational Economies in History and Science Fiction,' Science Fiction Studies, 46:3 (2019) --------------------------------------------------------------- You can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The image in this episode is one of Stafford Beer’s schematics for the Cybersyn project, which was displayed in the central operations room in Santiago.

In this episode we discuss Christopher Hill’s The World Turned Upside Down: Radical Ideas During the English Revolution, originally published in 1972. This book is widely regarded as a seminal work of history from below, which popularised the concept of the English Revolution and helped to establish the ideas of the Levellers, Diggers, Seekers and Ranters as a key part of the radical tradition in England and beyond. --------------------------------------------------------------- You can keep in touch with the podcast our email [email protected], and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The image in this episode is a 17th century woodcut depicting a group of Ranters, one of the sects discussed by Hill.

THIS IS THE CORRECT AUDIO, PLEASE IGNORE EARLIER VERSION OF EPISODE 39 In this episode we discuss The Fall and Rise of the British Left (Verso, 2019) by Andrew Murray. We originally intended this episode to coincide with the UK General Election in July 2024, seeing this as a good moment to reflect on the electoral turn of the left in Britain in the 2010s. While this scheduling didn't quite work out, we still felt this work, written by an advisor to Jeremy Corbyn at the peak of expectations for a left-wing Labour victory, would make for an interesting and (somewhat) timely discussion.  ---------------------------------------------------------------- The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage.  For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation.  You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The image in this episode is from the 1985 Labour Party Conference. 

In this episode we discuss M. E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi’s speculative fiction Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 (Common Notions Press, 2022). We both really enjoyed this slight departure from our usual reading choices for the podcast, which provoked and stimulated how we think about history, and the experience and nature of post-revolutionary society. You can find interviews authors of this book here: https://positionspolitics.org/an-interview-with-m-e-obrien/ https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lSfPYDDsyuvRNB3DgvcIx?si=1T076vlXTC6hVfOfTrq6mQ ---------------------------------------------------------------- The first ABC Edition Pamphlet, Danny's translation of Víctor García: ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography,’ is now available to buy for cost price of £2 + postage. For UK listeners, the easiest way to place a single order is to send £3.35 via PayPal to [email protected], and put your postal address in the comments. For larger or international orders, please email [email protected], and we will arrange in conversation. You can keep in touch with the podcast via the above email, and Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@abcdannyandjim⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can subscribe to our newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://abcwithdannyandjim.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast music is Stealing Orchestra & Rafael Dionísio, 'Gente da minha terra (que me mete um nojo do caralho).' Reproduced from the Free Music Archive under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License, available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35ToW4W⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The podcast logo is an adapted version of the Left Book Club logo (1936-48), reproduced, edited and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence. Original available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/35Nd6cv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The image in this episode is some of the cover art for Everything for Everyone.