Bristol Anarchist Bookfair
Radical History Zone
Date: Saturday 11th September 2010
Venue: Hamilton House
Price: Donation
At this years Bristol Anarchist Bookfair BRHG will be running the Radical History Zone. As well as a selection of book stalls from history groups and local publishers there we will also be hosting a series of talks (see below for details).
The full programme for the boofair is available from the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair website.
The stalls include:
BRHG
Tangent Books
Breviary Stuff Publications
Long John Silver Trust & Fiducia
Living Easton
Bloom n Curl Bookshop
Pasttense Press
Just Seeds
Richard Hart
Northern Voices
11.00am-12.00am
‘Every Cook Can Govern’: From Athens to the Electoral Lottery
Dan Bennett (BRHG)
Cheerleaders for parliamentary democracy often hark back semi-legendary ‘golden ages’ as a foundation of the modern electoral process. Do these myths have any basis in reality and what relevance do they have today? Dan Bennett uncovers the hidden history of Athenian popular democracy and proposes a modern alternative.
12.00am-1.00pm
Doing Radical History
Lord Twankum and Bristol Radical History Group
Recent years have seen a resurgence in ‘doing radical history’, from researching, writing and speaking to provocative recreations, media stunts and interventions in civic debates. South London Radical History group were pioneers in this process and with our own Bristol ‘mob’ will survey the ideas and experiences of the ‘new wave’.
1.00pm-2.00pm
Directional Discourse and Counter-history
John Desmond
John Desmond’s concept of directional discourse might interest radical historians for two reasons. It incorporates the two concepts of ascending discourse and counter-history. And it has produced a by-product, the challenge: ‘Is undertaking counter-history preferable to undertaking radical history?’, which he will only have time to float.
2.00pm-3.00pm
Do It Yourself Publishing
Richard Jones (Tangent Books), Randall Brantley (Bristol Radical Pamphleteer), Alex (Pasttense Press), Paul Mangan (Breviary Stuff Publications)
A panel of experienced independent publishers will discuss the ins and outs of producing history texts from short-run reprinting, running a small publishing outfit to the revival of the ‘radical history pamphlet’. So if you want to knock stuff out from broadsheets to books, come and find out how to ‘do it yourself’.
3.00pm-4.00pm
Anarchism in Bristol and the West Country to 1950
Steve Hunt (BRHG)
Steve Hunt looks at home-grown anarchism, with its roots in a tradition of West Country radicalism. Many colourful and inspiring characters believing in ‘The Cause’ were here. So let’s put on our black cloaks and wide-brimmed flowerpot hats and wander down to the coffeehouses of 1880s Bristol to see who was around. Talk will launch Steve's pamphlet of the same title.
4.00pm-5.00pm
Drowning on Dry Land: Swansea’s Jack Kerouac
Ray Jones (author of Drowning on Dry Land)
From working-class Wales through drugs, gambling and prison to punk, Paris fashion houses and San Francisco’s underground, Ray Jones editor of the notorious ‘Roughler’ magazine recounts his surreal life. So if chatting up Marianne Faithfull and rat arsing it with Keith Moon and Joe Strummer takes your fancy then Ray’s yer man.
5.00pm-6.00pm
The Atmosphere of Heaven: Dr. Beddoes and revolutionary Bristol
Mike Jay (author of The Atmosphere of Heaven: The Unnatural Experiments of Dr Beddoes and his Sons of Genius)
Beddoes (1760-1808), a fervent humanitarian and chemist, was inspired by the heady ideals of the French Revolution and the wonders of Nitrous Oxide gas. In Bristol, he gathered a dazzling circle of like-minded artists and scientists who created a grand vision of providing free healthcare to the poor of the south-west.
The Atmosphere of Heaven is out in paperback on 28th September.
Mike will be leading a walk around Clifton to places associated with Beddoes, Davey and the Pneumatic Institute on Sunday 12th September. Details can be found here.
