Carlo Tresca: Portrait of a Rebel

by Nunzio Pernicone

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 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.

Genres: History, Biography, Labor

375 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2005

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nunzio Pernicone's 2010 book is one of only two biographies of the remarkable Carlo Tresca. He graciously acknowledges the previous Tresca bio by Dorothy Gallagher and only adds further details to her work. Fundamentally, the two authors do not differ int their assessment of Tresca nor in their conclusions regarding his assassination. Perhaps a bit more than her, Pernicone concludes that Tresca was murdered by Mafia hitman Carmine Galante to avenge a personal insult his capo Frank Garofalo believed he had received from Tresca. Perncione also goes into more detail on Tresca's battles against Fascists in the Italian American community prior to Pearl Harbor, and Stalinist agents in the US Communist Party, and takes special aim at Generoso Pope, publisher of the Italian language il Progresso and later, founder of the infamous National Enquirer.

[Stewart Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good case study on how and why some politicized groups falter over time, as well as the folly of infighting among and between groups that seek to end capitalism.