[Item #27204] Der arme Teufel [The Poor Devil]. ANARCHISM, Robert REITZEL.

Der arme Teufel [The Poor Devil]

Detroit: Robert Reitzel, 1895-1897. 22 tabloid issues (ca.36cm); printed newsprinted wrappers; 8pp per issue. Publication sequence runs as follows: Vol.XI, Nos.565-567; Vol.XII, Nos.595, 597, 599-603; Vol.XIII, Nos.631-640, 642-643. Edgeworn, with occasional creasing and short tears; quite tender at folds, with splits starting; mailing label of previous owner to front wrappers of nearly all issues (Felick Jelineck); Good overall. Also included are three issues in poor condition (nos.566-567), badly browned, edges brittle, and split along center folds, but nonetheless complete.

Late group of issues of this prominent German-American radical literary journal. Der arme Teufel was published weekly for 14 years by Robert Reitzel, a German-born American anarchist, poet, critic and translator. The first two volumes of the journal were mainly concerned with the freethought movement, primarily consisting of articles on religious criticism; in its later years, Reitzel declared Der arme Teufel to be an anarchist publication. Reitzel was a staunch supporter of the imprisoned Haymarket anarchists, and later, of Alexander Berkman during his confinement. Indeed, Reitzel's journal was reportedly the only radical serial Berkman was allowed to receive while he was in prison. "Emma Goldman noted Reitzel's importance for facilitating American exposure to European radical thought," describing him as a "brilliant writer" and his Arme Teufel as "the one German paper in the States that kept its readers in contact with the new literary spirit in Europe" (Donaldson, Randall P. The Literary Legacy of a "Poor Devil": The Life and Work of Robert Reitzel (1849-1898) (New York: Lang, 2002), p.50-51).

Price: $850.00

Go Back