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

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. 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. 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. 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.