Revolution in Seattle

“There was a time in this country when radicals openly advocated abolition of the capitalist system—not merely reform of its most glaring abuses….
“There was a time in this country when workers learned class consciousness from these radicals, and from their own experiences in militant struggles against their profit-hungry employers….
“Revolution in Seattle is the story of such radicals and trade unionists who preached and practiced class consciousness and direct action and solidarity, and so won shorter hours, better conditions, and higher wages for the workers of America, at the cost of beating, imprisonment, and death.”
—From the foreword by Leo Huberman

In this moving, political memoir, celebrated journalist and activist Harvey O’Connor captures the courage and defiance of workers on the march against the carnage of the first World War and the dramatic inequality that marked the era. In particular, O'Connor's remembrances of the Seattle General Strike of 1919—the first in the nation—showcase his abiding faith in the potential of working people to transform society, and illuminates the vibrancy and militancy of the early American labor movement.

"[A] book that will both inspire and astonish activists seeking to transform society today. A classic history that deserves to be re-read by every new generation."
—Ian Sinclair, Peace News