NestorMakhnohasbeencalledarevolutionaryanarchist,apeasantrebel,theUkrainianRobinHood,amass-murderer,apogromist,andadevil.TheseepithetshadtheiroriginsintheRussianCivilWar(1917-1921),wherethemilitaryforcesofthepeasant-anarchistNestorMakhnoandMennonitecolonistsinsouthernUkrainecameintoconflict.Inautumn1919,Makhnovisttroopsandlocalpeasantsympathizersmurderedmorethan800Mennonitesinaseriesoflarge-scalemassacres.Thehistoryofthatconflicthasbeenfraughtwithfolklore,ideologicalbattlesandradicallydivergentculturalmemories,inwhichfactandfictionoftenseamlesslyblend,conjuringamultitudeofMakhnos,eachoneshoutingitsmessageovertheother.Drawingontheoriesofcollectivememoryandnarrativeanalysis,MakhnoandMemorybringsavastarrayofMakhnovistandMennonitesourcesintodialogue,includingmemoirs,histories,diaries,newspapers,andarchivalmaterial.AdiversityofperspectivesarebroughtintoreliefthroughthepersonalreminiscencesofMakhnoandhisanarchistsympathizersalongsideMennonitepacifistsandadvocatesforarmedself-defense.ThroughameticulousanalysisoftheMakhnovist-Mennoniteconflictandamicro-studyoftheEichenfeldmassacreofNovember1919,SeanPattersonattemptstomakesenseofthecompetingculturalmemoriesandpresentsnewwaysofthinkingaboutMakhnoandhismovement.MakhnoandMemoryoffersaconvincingreframingoftheMennonite/Makhnorelationshipthatwillforceascholarlyreassessmentofthisperiod.
HISTORY WAY EVERYONE WORLD creative
