Edward Carpenter 1844-1929 Prophet of Human Fellowship

This is the first full-scale biography of Edward Carpenter, an 'eminent Victorian' who played an intriguing role in the revival of Socialism in Britain in the late nineteenth century. 'A worthy heir of Carlyle and Ruskin', as Tolstoy called him, Carpenter tackled boldly the problems of alienation under the pressures of commercial civilisation, and developed a strongly personalised brand of Socialism which inspired both the Labour Party and its enemies, Syndicalism and Anarchism. A homosexual, he grappled with the problems of sexual alienation above all, and emerged as the foremost advocate of the homosexual cause at a time when it was a social 'taboo'. This study, based upon letters and many other personal documents, reveals much of Carpenter's personal life which has hitherto remained obscure, including his 'comradeship' with some of his working-men friends and his influence upon such notable literary figures as Siegfried Sassoon, E. M. Forster and D. H. Lawrence.

List of illustrations; Preface; Introduction; 1. The Brighton childhood; 2. A Cambridge liberal; 3. A lecturer for the people; 4. Towards democracy; 5. The Socialist revival; 6. Sheffield workers and Millthorpians; 7. Labour and civilisation; 8. Labour and Anarchism; 9. Journey to the East; 10. Humanitarianism and larger Socialism; 11. The sublimination of homosexuality; 12. George Merrill; 13. Literature and sex; 14. Critical years; 15. The Great War; 16. Last years; Epilogue; Notes; List of works by Edward Carpenter; Index.

This study, based upon letters and many other personal documents, reveals much of Carpenter's personal life which has hitherto remained obscure, including his 'comradeship' with some of his working-men friends and his influence upon such notable literary figures as Siegfried Sassoon, E. M. Forster and D. H. Lawrence.