Anna Girling

Alastair Crowley DO WHAT THOU WILT shall be the whole of the Law. Franco is a common murderer and pirate: should swing in chains at Execution Dock. Mussolini, the secret assassin, possibly worse. Hitler may prove a "prophet"; time will judge. Love is the law, love under will.

Aleister Crowley, never uncontroversial: ‘Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Franco is a common murderer & pirate: should swing in chains at Execution Dock. Mussolini, the secret assassin, possibly worse.
Hitler may prove a "prophet"; time will judge. Love is the law, love under will.’

A Roundtable in Memory of Helen Carr

#InternationalWomensDay

Helen Carr (1940–2025) was one of the outstanding modernist scholars of her generation, and a longstanding member of the London Modernism Seminar

Join us on 9 May 2026 for a roundtable discussion dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and colleague

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Shop: Shoe repairs. Graffiti: Free tampons on the NHS.

Graffiti: Stop council house sales! Ban the Tories! Squat against nuclear family.

Billboard: It it were a lady, it would get its bottom pinched. Graffiti: If this lady was a car she'd run you down.

Billboard: Renew his interest in carpenry. Graffiti: Saw his head off.

Ambivalent about much of IWD, but any excuse to post some Jill Posener

Sir Peter Chalmers-Mitchell FASCISM IS A PATHOLOGICAL CONDITION, a disease of Society. Unfortunately it is contagious. Its leading symptoms are exaggerated selfishness and moral atrophy. In its more virulent phase, as in Germany, Italy and Spain, it glorifies and justifies crime. In its weaker forms, as in the British Government and the majorities of the two Houses of Parliament, it appears as a complacent and selfish cowardice. But it is the same disease, and I fear that a very slight change in economic conditions would produce the virulent phase even in England.

Zoologist Peter Chalmers-Mitchell: 'Fascism is a pathological condition, a disease of Society... Its leading symptoms are exaggerated selfishness and moral atrophy... In its weaker forms, as in the British Government & the two Houses of Parliament, it appears as a complacent and selfish cowardice.'

Arthur Calder-Marshall AS WRITER, I oppose Fascism as the enemy of the arts. As politician, I work against Fascism because it tries to keep by tyranny a class system now as obsolete as it was always unjust. As man, I hate Fascism because it destroys all the best in life and the lives of all the best. Their free spirit now articulate after centuries of oppression, the Spanish People fight not for themselves only, but for all who prize freedom.

Arthur Calder-Marshall (novelist, etc): 'As writer, I oppose Fascism as the enemy of the arts. As politician, I work against Fascism bc it tries to keep by tyranny a class system now as obsolete as it was always unjust. As man, I hate Fascism bc it destroys the best in life & the lives of the best.'

Via Jamaica Gleaner: "Retired former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is calling for African and European nations that have benefited from Cuba’s decades of international solidarity to now stand in support of the Caribbean island." Read more: jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news...

Compelling study of an overlooked Jamaican activist Red and Black in Harlem and Jamaica: The Revolutionary Life and Selected Writings of WA DomingoWA Domingo (Author), Peter Hulme (Editor), Leslie James (Editor) Pluto Press, £24.99WILFRED ADOLPHUS…

“For Domingo, however, the pen was the primary tool he chose to campaign with throughout his life”

Red and Black in Harlem and Jamaica by Peter Hulme and Leslie James reviewed in Morning Star:
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/comp...

Thomas Burke I KNOW nothing of the rights and wrongs of the struggle in Spain; but I am for social justice, a fair standard of life, and freedom of opinion, for the People of all countries. I am against the regimentation of the People, under whatever name it operates.

Thomas Burke (short story writer and author of 'Limehouse Nights'): 'I am for social justice, a fair standard of life, and freedom of opinion, for the People of all countries. I am against the regimentation of the People, under whatever name it operates.'

Gerald Bullett AS ONE WHO HAS NO POLITICAL AXE to grind, is attached to no political party, and detests all tyrannical government whether it be of the Right or of the Left, I believe that the subjugation of the People of Republican Spain by Franco and his foreign confederates will, if it is effected, mark the end of freedom and civilisation in Europe. Fascism-which in practice is merely gangsterism on a national scale-involves the enslavement of peoples, the destruction of culture, and the persecution of all real religion. And it depends for its continued existence on the perpetual fomentation of new wars. In the light of recent history, and of history now in the making, I am astonished that any man or woman of good will can remain blind to these plain facts.

Gerald Bullett (fantasy writer & critic): 'Fascism—which in practice is merely gangsterism on a national scale—involves the enslavement of peoples, the destruction of culture & the persecution of all real religion. And it depends for its continued existence on the perpetual fomentation of new wars.'

The Enclosures of Free Verse Throughout the twentieth century, scholars accepted that there was something called “traditional” poetic meter, and that free verse liberated poets from ...

In honor of the publication day of The Enclosures of Free Verse (uncpress.org/978146969306...), here's a little thread about what the book does and does not offer.

George Buchanan YOUR QUESTION appears to call on writers to step down from their Ivory Towers. Not being resident in one, I cannot make the appropriate gesture. I do not regard Fascism as the "saviour of civilisation", and desire to see the Spanish people free from civil war and oppression.

George Buchanan (journalist & novelist): '[You call] on writers to step down from their Ivory Towers. Not being resident in one, I cannot make the appropriate gesture. I do not regard Fascism as the "saviour of civilisation", and desire to see the Spanish people free from civil war and oppression.'

Franklin Research Center Announces the Opening of the Sylvia Wynter Papers, Exhibition, and Symposium - The Devil's Tale Post contributed by John B. Gartrell, director John Hope Franklin Research Center  The John Hope Franklin Research Center is pleased to share that the archive of philosopher, scholar, and author Sylvi...

The John Hope Franklin Research Center is pleased to share that the archive of philosopher, scholar, and author Sylvia Wynter will be opened to the public beginning March 3

blogs.library.duke.edu/rubenstein/2...

Alec Brown I AM FOR THE GOVERNMENT of Republican Spain, because it is clearly the Government elected by a nation striving towards greater freedom and activity of thought, hence improved human life; I am opposed to all forms

of Fascism and conservative forms of government, because invariably they trammel thought, hence hamper mankind's struggle for improved life.

Alec Brown (translator & crime/sci-fi writer): '[Spain is] striving towards greater freedom & activity of thought, & improved human life; I am opposed to all forms of Fascism & conservative forms of government, because invariably they trammel thought, & hamper mankind's struggle for improved life.'

Awful Andrew- sending solidarity (and warmth!) to all at wonderful Napier.

On my way to strike and picket this morning at (checks notes) Edinburgh Napier University, over (checks notes) redundancies in the institution barely a year after Prof Nolan's departure...

Fenner Brockway FASCISM IS THE CLIMAX of the cruelty and the tyranny of Capitalism. This is shewn by the infamies of Hitler, Mussolini and Franco. I wholeheartedly support the struggle of the Spanish workers and peasants to defeat Franco, and hope that they will make a permanent job of it by carrying through the social revolution, and so destroy the Capitalism which is the parent of Fascism.

Fenner Brockway (socialist, anti-imperialist, conscientious objector, & sci-fi writer): 'Fascism is the climax of the cruelty & the tyranny of Capitalism.... I hope that [the Spanish workers] will carry through the social revolution, & so destroy the Capitalism which is the parent of Fascism.'

May Labour's Yvette Cooper, the former Home Secretary, be remembered always as the politician who imposed the ban at the behest of Britain's powerful weapons industry, so it could continue to profit from the deliberate massacre of the people of Gaza

Lionel Britton THE WORLD IS FACED with disruption because men do not realise that privileges cannot be retained for ever. In a last attempt to save their privileges against the rising tide of men, the privileged classes are giving up the only thing that makes life worth while-freedom. Some freedom must be given up for the sake of order, because without order civilisation is impossible; but this is not intelligent unless we receive from the collective order more freedom than we individually give up. The Spanish Government was a legal government, elected by majority opinion; and though majorities are not always right, to suppress this by force where it cannot be done by argument, is to revert to the practices of ages we now consider uncivilised.

Lionel Britton (playwright, novelist & Russian translator): 'men do not realise that privileges cannot be retained for ever. In a last attempt to save their privileges against the rising tide of men, the privileged classes are giving up the only thing that makes life worth while – freedom.'

What a turnout!

Great to join @ucu.org.uk @unisontheunion.bsky.social & @unitetheunion.bsky.social and students at University of Essex taking action to save jobs in Colchester and Southend.

Time for the University to rethink its plans and engage positively with staff & their unions.

anyway the consultation shuts tomorrow, one minute to midnight UK time: www.gov.uk/government/c... Amnesty have some good guidance here. Go on: media.amnesty.org.uk/documents/Am...

Kay Boyle I AM AGAINST FASCISM and its exponents as symbols of a material and not a spiritual triumph; I am against Franco and for the people of Spain. I am for the people of every country who have, because of a tradition of ignorance (or because of colour), been exploited and betrayed.

Left Bank modernist Kay Boyle: ‘I am against Fascism & its exponents as symbols of a material & not a spiritual triumph; I am against Franco & for the people of Spain. I am for the people of every country who have, because of… ignorance (or because of colour), been exploited and betrayed.’

Oswell Blakeston FASCISM IS WHAT MEN used to call "original sin." It is the essential core of evil in each of us. If we can rid the world of Fascism, we may know what men used to call heaven. If we do not, we will get our Hell as others have already found theirs.

Oswell Blakeston (writer, artist, & filmmaker): ‘Fascism is what men used to call "original sin." It is the essential core of evil in each of us. If we can rid the world of Fascism, we may know what men used to call heaven. If we do not, we will get our Hell as others have already found theirs.’

Pearl Binder TO-DAY THE FUTURE of European Culture is being decided on Spanish soil. All sincere writers must support the legal Spanish Government in its heroic struggle for learning and liberty against the dark forces of General Franco. Ralph Fox was one of us.

Pearl Binder (artist, writer, & East End chronicler): ‘the future of European Culture is being decided on Spanish soil. All sincere writers must support the legal Spanish Government in its heroic struggle for learning and liberty against the dark forces of General Franco. Ralph Fox was one of us.’

J. D. Beresford WHILE I HAVE no particular admiration or sympathy for the methods of Spain's legal Government, I oppose with all the forces of which I am capable any spread of Fascism.

J. D. Beresford (prolific early-twentieth-century science fiction writer and theosophist): 'While I have no particular admiration or sympathy for the methods of Spain's legal Government, I oppose with all the forces of which I am capable any spread of Fascism.'

Samuel Beckett ¡ UPTHEREPUBLIC !

Samuel Beckett: ‘¡UPTHEREPUBLIC!’

my unpopular basic opinion that I will probably delete is that sport has a grossly outsize place in our current world– eclipsing other forms of fun, pleasure, community & how we experience nature– and its valorisation of competitiveness & physical strength are a large part of why we are where we are

Leonard Barnes CERTAINLY I AM wholly for the Spanish Government and wholly against Franco and his allies. But I remember that Fascism in Italy and Germany is largely the outcome of policies pursued by capitalist interests and Governments in Britain, France and America. Moreover, British rule in India and Africa is a form of Fascism just as barbarous as the German or Italian. For Britons, therefore, the enemy is not merely the ambition of a Mussolini or a Hitler, but also the general structure and functioning of the British Empire itself, as now organised.

Leonard Barnes, anticolonial journalist: 'British rule in India & Africa is a form of Fascism just as barbarous as German or Italian. For Britons, therefore, the enemy is not merely the ambition of a Mussolini or a Hitler, but also the general structure & functioning of the British Empire itself.'