Harry Leslie Smith (1923–2018)
Autor von Harry's Last Stand
Über den Autor
Harry Leslie Smith was born in Barnsley, England on February 25, 1923. He started working at the age of 7 to help support his family. He quit school at the age of 14 when he got a job as a grocer's assistant. He fought the Nazis in World War II. He moved to Canada in the 1950s and worked in the mehr anzeigen Oriental carpet trade. After the deaths of his wife and son, he started writing. He wrote several books including 1923 and Don't Let My Past Be Your Future. He also wrote a column in The Guardian and posted frequently on Twitter. He died from pneumonia on November 28, 2018 at the age of 95. (Bowker Author Biography) weniger anzeigen
Bildnachweis: Twitter
Werke von Harry Leslie Smith
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Wissenswertes
- Rechtmäßiger Name
- Smith, Harry Leslie
- Geburtstag
- 1923-02-25
- Todestag
- 2018-11-28
- Geschlecht
- male
- Nationalität
- UK
- Geburtsort
- Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Sterbeort
- Belleville, Ontario, Canada
- Wohnorte
- Yorkshire, England, UK
Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Berufe
- writer
journalist
polemicist - Organisationen
- Royal Air Force
Guardian
New Statesman
Mitglieder
Rezensionen
Auszeichnungen
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- 4.1
- Rezensionen
- 6
- ISBNs
- 18
Unfortunately, Harry still puts his faith in social democracy rather than democratic socialism. Our society's historically brief flirtation with social democracy shows, as indeed does Harry's book, how frail and temporary the benefits of such an approach can be and how it can so easily be taken over by the sort of self-serving individuals who hijacked the Labour Party in the dying decades of the last century (and who are doing so again right now). Harry Smith's position is reflected in his ambivalent attitude to trade unionism. In many places in the book he extols the virtues of, and necessity for, working people protecting their livelihoods through the collective pursuit of their common interests. Yet when they do start to develop some strength, as in the 1970s, he withdraws his support and seems to present the labour movement as a threat. That this occurs even in the opening pages makes me wonder if this was an editorial tactic to gain the interest of as wide a readership as possible for the book.
Harry's specific policy recommendations for a better society, presented towards the end of the book, are disappointing in their scope but are, I suppose, in line with his social democracy. They will not resolve the fundamental problems the rest of this book does so well to warn us of. I would urge people to read this book, though, for the way in which the author offers a clear, unsparing analysis of our broken society. The fact that he does so while weaving in reflections of his own long and constructive life in a moving, but never sentimental, fashion makes it an exceptionally good read, too. Thanks, Harry.… (mehr)