Oscar Wilde deemed his life "perfect," and described him as a man with
"a soul of that beautiful white Christ which seems coming out of
Russia." He is PETER ALEXEYEVICH KROPOTKIN (1842-1921), communist
advocate and "anarchist prince." Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution,
first published in 1902, is his best known book. Written as a series of
essays for a British literary journal, this intriguing work filters
concepts of evolution through Kropotkin's appreciation for altruism and
anarchy, positing cooperation not merely as a beneficial political
concept but as an approach that has been-and will continue to be-vital
to the long-term survival of humanity. Kropotkin explores "mutual aid"
among "animals," "savages," "barbarians," and in the medieval and modern
world, and also discusses nesting associations, checks to
overmultiplication, adaptations to avoid competition, the origin of the
family, the origin of the guilds, and other related issues. Anyone
interested in the science of evolution and its influence on the shape of
human societies will find this a fascinated read.