social revolution – Page 730

June 30, 1876: Peter Kropotkin Escapes from Prison

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A Tale of Derring-Do on the Occasion of His Birthday

read in Português Brasileiro

Born on December 9, 1842 into an aristocratic family in Tsarist Russia,¹ Peter Kropotkin developed radical ideas in the course of his scientific research. In 1874, a few hours after he presented a well-received report regarding glacial formations to the Geographical Society, he was arrested and accused of subversive activity. The following narrative, derived from his own memoir and other historical documents, details his escape from a St. Petersburg prison two years later.

This is adapted from our forthcoming narrative history of anarchism; you can read another advance selection here. The above illustration is by Julian Watson from Kropotkin Escapes, a forgotten edition of Kropotkin’s account of his escape, currently being reprinted by Detritus Books. To learn more about anarchism, start here.

The year 1876 arrives with wintry breath. Two years in the Tsar’s prisons have taken their toll on Peter Kropotkin. Though still in his early thirties, he has suffered scurvy, malnutrition, rheumatism, and a series of debilitating illnesses. Kropotkin’s brother has been exiled to Siberia; many of his fellow prisoners have died or lost their sanity, and he is approaching the end of his rope. Fearing that he too will die before his trial begins, the authorities transfer him to a hospital prison.