In the turmoil of the Russian insurrection of 1905 and civil war of 1917, the anarchists attempted to carry out their programme of "direct action" - workers' control of production, the creation of free rural and urban communes and partisan warfare against the enemies of a free society. Paul Avrich consulted published material in five languages, and anarchist archives worldwide, to present a picture of the philosophers, bomb throwers, workers, peasants and soldiers who fought and died for the freedom of 'Mother Russia'. This acclaimed title has been out of print for 20 years, and AK is pleased to make it available for a new generation of readers.