If things continue as they have this month, the website and blog will surpass the 50,000-hit mark for the second time in the website's history. Two things account for this. Firstly, there has been an increase in the number of articles. This has been achieved with the aid of the World Socialist Website's new chatbot, Socialism AI. It not only provides a guide to writing but also serves as a valuable archive resource. Secondly, the US war and genocide against Iran has once again sparked a significant interest in a Marxist analysis.
Three new pages have been added to the website this week.
Perhaps the most significant has been the WRP Page. The first article was on Gerry
Healy’s books and archive, an ongoing investigation, and more will be written
about it.[1]
I purchased two books from the SWP belonging to Healy.
These will either be put in my personal archive, currently
under construction at Bishopsgate Institute, or, if more books appear, donated
to a suitable home for research purposes.
Work on the Raphael Samuel book has stalled a little, with
only two draft chapters completed. This week, I will start writing a third as
the research for it has mostly been done. The other project is a rewrite of my
2003 Oliver Cromwell dissertation.
Another project will be to research the historian Tim Mason.
His archive currently resides at the Bishopsgate Institute. I want to say that
I have followed his work, but his importance was brought to my attention by the
Marxist David North. When North recommends or mentions a historian, it is well
worth looking at their work. In the next few weeks, I will be attending several
meetings and events.
Meetings and Events
When: 24 March 2026, 18:00 — 20:00 Birkbeck
British Library
Raphael Samuel History Centre, Birkbeck, University of
London
Thursday, Apr 9, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm
Remembering the General Strike, 100 years on
29 April 2026
A hybrid event bringing together historians and researchers
to reflect on the significance of the 1926 General Strike and its impact on
British political and labour history.
Panellists: Jonathan Schneer, Jon Cruddas, Florence
Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, Paul Nowak. James Moher will chair.
Location: Hybrid event – Online and Room 349, Third Floor,
Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. More information
21 May 2026 | 4 pm - 6 pm
Visit the archives related to the General Strike 1926 in the
LSE Library collection and hear from the former Librarian of the Trades Union
Congress, Chris Coates.
Chris will discuss the factors leading up to the Strike, its
effectiveness, and its impact on working people.
Location: LSE Library, London WC2A 2HD
The Legend of Rasputin, London Library- Anthony Beevor, 30 April 2026, 18:00 - 20:00
Books
Sisters in Yellow Novel by Mieko Kawakami
89 Amy Lawrence
Tarantula Edurdo Halfon
Repetition Vigdis Hjorth
Borderless Jennifer De Leon
The Blood Never Dried John Newsinger
JFK John Hughes-Wilson
Where is Britain Going, Leon Trotsky
Social Policy in the Third Reich: Tim Mason
