Sewing Freedom: Philip Josephs, Transnationalism & Early New Zealand Anarchism

by Jared Davidson, Barry Pateman (Foreword)

Sewing Freedom is the first in-depth study of anarchism in New Zealand during the turbulent years of the early 20th century—a time of wildcat strikes, industrial warfare, and a radical working class counter-culture. Interweaving biography, cultural history, and an array of archival sources, this engaging account unravels the anarchist-cum-bomber stereotype by piecing together the life of Philip Josephs—a Latvian-born Jewish tailor, antimilitarist, and founder of the Wellington Freedom Group. Anarchists like Josephs not only existed in the ‘Workingman’s Paradise’ that was New Zealand, but were a lively part of its labour movement and the class struggle that swept through the country, imparting uncredited influence and ideas. Sewing Freedom places this neglected movement within the global anarchist upsurge, and unearths the colourful activities of New Zealand’s most radical advocates for social and economic change. Includes illustrations by Icky from Justseeds and a foreword by Barry Pateman (Kate Sharpley Library Archivist and Associate Editor at the Emma Goldman Papers).

“Davidson has produced much more than a soundly researched and very engaging biography... this is an excellent, wide-ranging contribution to our knowledge of the international (and indeed transnational) anarchist movement, and sweeps us along in a fascinating story that takes us from the pogroms in Russian Latvia, to the working-class slums of Victorian Glasgow, to the early struggles of the nascent labour movement in New Zealand.”—Dr David Berry, author of A History of the French Anarchist Movement

“Many millions of words have been written on New Zealand history. The labour movement does not feature prominently in this vast corpus; in fact, quite the contrary. And within this relatively sparse coverage, anarchism is almost invariably assigned at best a passing mention. We must be grateful for Davidson’s determination to restore an anarchist voice to the history of the outermost reach of the British Empire.”—Dr Richard Hill, Professor of New Zealand Studies & author of Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove

“A ground breaking tale of a rebel life, skillfully unearthed by Jared Davidson. A must read.”—Lucien van der Walt, co-author of Black Flame

Genres: History

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2013

About the author

An archivist by day and author by night, Jared Davidson is a writer based in Lower Hutt, Aotearoa New Zealand. His research explores the lives of workers overlooked by traditional histories – from radicals of the early twentieth century to farmhands and convicts of the nineteenth. He is currently the Research Librarian Manuscripts at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Reviews

[Trish McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book can be enjoyed on many levels - as an insight into New Zealand's anarchist past, as the story of the very human Philip Josephs whose life and philosophical journey took him from Latvia to Wellington and as a compelling social history. Highly recommended.

[hugo dion · Rating 4 out of 5]

tbh i expected this to be an incomprehensible tome as a guy with limited knowledge of political theory but this was very approachable and easy to comprehend while also giving a comprehensive analysis of nz anarchism in the early 20th century/what they believed in. very good historical read!! it is an examination of almost exclusively white anarchists, but the book isnt hiding that it is prevailingly addressing Josephs' impact on anarchism and european concepts of it. if anyone has book recs about historical political movements in non-white/indigenous circles in new zealand lmk in the comments!

[B. Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully produced
Well researched
Engaging

Anarchist histories are difficult things to write and Jared Davidson has done it :)