Carlo Tresca: Portrait of a Rebel (Italian and Italian American Studies)

In his heyday, Carlo Tresca ranked among the most important radicals and labour activists in the United States, often sharing the spotlight with Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, 'Big Bill' Haywood, and Emma Goldman. A charismatic Italian anarchist who became a folk hero to immigrant and native-born workers alike, Tresca was described by comrades as a 'freelance revolutionary' because of his independent spirit and militant activism. During his wild and adventurous career spanning nearly forty years (1904-1943), Tresca pursued a range of activities unmatched by any of his radical contemporaries: independent newspaper editor, labour agitator and organizer, civil libertarian, foremost leader of the Italian American anti-fascist resistance, and an indomitable foe of Stalinism. Culminating over a decade of research, this fast-paced and vivid biography brings to life the volatile world of radical politics in early twentieth-century America through one of its foremost figures. In This Biography, Nunzio Pernicone Reveals The Life Of Carlo Tresca, One Of The Most Fascinating Figures Of The American Left. A Charismatic Italian Anarchist Who Became A Folk-hero To Immigrant And Native-born American Workers, Tresca Was Described By Comrades As A Freelance Revolutionary Because Of His Independent Spirit And Militant Activism. During His Wild And Adventurous Career Spanning Nearly Forty Years (1904-1943), Tresca Pursued A Range Of Activities Unmatched By Any Of His Radical Contemporaries: Independent Newspaper Editor, Labor Agitator And Organizer, Civil Libertarian, Foremost Leader Of The Italian American Anti-fascist Resistance, And An Indomitable Foe Of Stalinism. The Last Of The Old School Immigrant Revolutionaries, Tresca Ranked Among The Most Important Radicals And Labor Activists In The United States, Often Sharing The Spotlight With Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Big Bill Haywood, Emma Goldman, And Alexander Berkman. This Biography Illuminates Many Forgotten Chapters Of The American Radical And Labor Movement And Provides A Comprehensive Exploration Of The Lost World Of Italian American Radicalism And Antifascism.--jacket. Revolutionary Apprenticeship -- Il Proletario -- Freelance Of Revolution -- Lawrence -- On To Paterson -- Tresca And Flynn -- From Union Square To Mesabi Range -- Surviving Repression -- Postwar Activities -- Sacco And Vanzetti -- New Enemies -- Early Anti-fascist Activities -- Frame-up -- The Resistance Awakens -- Early Anti-fascist Alliance -- A Year Of Violence And Death -- Troubled Times For Anti-fascism -- The Depression And The New Deal -- Fascism On The March -- Taking On The Stalinists -- The Town Anarchist -- The Last Years -- Murder In The Dimout -- Theories And Investigations -- Who Ordered Tresca's Murder? Nunzio Pernicone. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [297]-352) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1 Revolutionary Apprenticeship......Page 16 2 Il Proletario......Page 30 3 Freelance of Revolution......Page 42 4 Lawrence......Page 58 5 On to Paterson......Page 70 6 Tresca and Flynn......Page 82 7 From Union Square to Mesabi Range......Page 94 8 Surviving Repression......Page 104 9 Postwar Activities......Page 112 10 Sacco and Vanzetti......Page 122 11 New Enemies......Page 132 12 Early Anti-Fascist Activities......Page 144 13 Frame-Up......Page 156 14 The Resistance Awakens......Page 172 15 The Anti-Fascist Alliance......Page 184 16 A Year of Violence and Death......Page 192 17 Troubled Times for Anti-Fascism......Page 204 18 The Depression and the New Deal......Page 218 19 Fascism on the March......Page 226 20 Taking on the Stalinists......Page 236 21 The Town Anarchist......Page 246 22 The Last Years......Page 258 23 Murder in the Dimout......Page 274 24 Theories and Investigations......Page 284 25 Who Ordered Tresca's Murder?......Page 298 Notes......Page 306 Bibliographical Essay......Page 358 B......Page 362 C......Page 363 D......Page 364 F......Page 365 G......Page 366 H......Page 367 L......Page 368 M......Page 369 P......Page 370 R......Page 371 S......Page 372 T......Page 373 Z......Page 376 In this definitive biography, Nunzio Pernicone reveals the life of Carlo Tresca, one of the most fascinating figures of the American left. A charismatic Italian anarchist who became a folk-hero to immigrant and native-born American workers, Tresca was described by comrades as a "freelance revolutionary" because of his independent spirit and militant activism. During his wild and adventurous career spanning nearly forty years (1904-1943), Tresca pursued a range of activities unmatched by any of his radical contemporaries: independent newspaper editor, labor agitator and organizer, civil libertarian, foremost leader of the Italian American anti-fascist resistance, and an indomitable foe of Stalinism. The last of the "old school" immigrant revolutionaries, Tresca ranked among the most important radicals and labor activists in the United States, often sharing the spotlight with Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, "Big Bill" Haywood, Emma Goldman, and Alexander Berkman. This biography illuminates many forgotten chapters of the American radical and labor movement and provides a comprehensive exploration of the lost world of Italian American radicalism and antifascism. Cover 1 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 10 1 Revolutionary Apprenticeship 16 2 Il Proletario 30 3 Freelance of Revolution 42 4 Lawrence 58 5 On to Paterson 70 6 Tresca and Flynn 82 7 From Union Square to Mesabi Range 94 8 Surviving Repression 104 9 Postwar Activities 112 10 Sacco and Vanzetti 122 11 New Enemies 132 12 Early Anti-Fascist Activities 144 13 Frame-Up 156 14 The Resistance Awakens 172 15 The Anti-Fascist Alliance 184 16 A Year of Violence and Death 192 17 Troubled Times for Anti-Fascism 204 18 The Depression and the New Deal 218 19 Fascism on the March 226 20 Taking on the Stalinists 236 21 The Town Anarchist 246 22 The Last Years 258 23 Murder in the Dimout 274 24 Theories and Investigations 284 25 Who Ordered Tresca's Murder? 298 Notes 306 Bibliographical Essay 358 Index 362 A 362 B 362 C 363 D 364 E 365 F 365 G 366 H 367 I 368 J 368 K 368 L 368 M 369 N 370 O 370 P 370 Q 371 R 371 S 372 T 373 U 376 V 376 W 376 Y 376 Z 376 This biography reveals the life of one of the American left's most controversial and charismatic figures in the early twentieth century: anarchist, activist, and revolutionary Carlo Tresca. Emigrating to America at age twenty-five from Italy, Tresca became a leader in the fight for workers' rights, alongside activists like Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Emma Goldman. Tresca played many roles for his cause: newspaper editor, labor agitator and organizer, civil libertarian, anti-fascist, and an indomitable foe of Stalinism. He continued to fight for the rights of the oppressed until gunned down by Mafioso Carmine Galante, a crime which would never be prosecuted. This engaging book not only relates Tresca's adventure-filled story, but brings to life the volatile world of radical politics in early twentieth century America