<DIV><p>In the turmoil of the Russian insurrection of 1905 and civil war of 1917, the anarchists attempted to carry out their program of &ldquo;direct action&rdquo;&mdash;workers&rsquo; control of production, the creation of free rural and urban communes, and partisan warfare against the enemies of a free society.</p> <p>Avrich consulted published material in five languages and anarchist archives worldwide to present a picture of the philosophers, bomb throwers, peasants, and soldiers who fought and died for the freedom of &ldquo;Mother Russia.&rdquo; Including the influence and ideas of Bakunin and Kropotkin, the armed uprisings of Makhno, the activities of Volin, Maximoff, and the attempted aid of Berkman and Emma Goldman.</p> <p><b>Paul Avrich</b> is a retired professor of history at Queens College.</p></DIV>