THE ANARCHIST 'STUDIES' CORRESPONDENCE

Letter from Stewart Home to Anarchist 'Studies' editor Sharif Gemie at The University Of Glamorgan 25/7/96

Dear Sharif Gemie
Not being a regular reader of Anarchist Studies, I've only just come across the Leigh Starcross review of my Neoist Manifestos and The Art Strike Papers edited by James Mannox. I would like to respond to this piece, not simply because of the way in which the contents of the book are misrepresented, but because it offers the opportunity to deepen my ongoing critique of anarchism While what I wish to write will not fit the ideological agenda of Anarchist Studies, having begun a debate, I hope you are open minded enough to provide me with the space in which to continue it. I enclose with this a few issues of Re:Action, a newsletter that I edit. A cursory examination of these will show that it is not really a suitable vehicle to continue the debate begun by Leigh Starcross, which is why I would like space in Anarchist Studies. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Stewart Home. ENC.

Letter from Anarchist 'Studies' editor Sharif Gemie at The University Of Glamorgan to Stewart Home 29/7/96

Dear Stewart Home
Thank you for your letter dated 25 July. We have had a number of authors who, like yourself, wish to reply to critical reviews of their works. As yet, no policy has been formulated to respond to such requests: on the one hand, the idea of a 'right to reply' does seem eminently reasonable; on the other hand, AS is not a formally constituted political group, has no party line, and does not seek to impose an analysis onto reviewers. Lastly, pragmatically, replies to reviews usually make dull reading.
I'd like to discuss this matter further with the book review editor, and with other members of the editorial group. Please allow me a few weeks to consult before replying more fully to your letter. In the meantime, can I remind you that AS is open to all discussions of anarchism, critical or appreciative. If you wish to send in a paper, I would be more than willing to consider it for publication. With best wishes, Sharif Gemie.

Letter from Stewart Home to Anarchist 'Studies' editor Sharif Gemie at The University Of Glamorgan 23/9/96

Dear Sharif Gemie
I haven't responded until now to your letter of 29 July since you requested that I: "Please allow a few weeks to consult before replying more fully to you letter." Well, it's now nearly two months, and since I haven't heard from you, I though I'd send you my response to the Leigh Starcross article you published in the spring issue of Anarchist Studies. As you will see from this, my objection to the Starcross piece is not that it is critical of me, but that it is both politically reactionary and academically inept. I hope you enjoy my response and I look forward to hearing from you about its progress through whatever processes it must undergo before appearing in the next Anarchist Studies. Yours sincerely, Stewart Home. ENC.

Letter from Anarchist 'Studies' editor Sharif Gemie at The University Of Glamorgan to Stewart Home 1/10/96

Dear Stewart Home
Thank you for your letter dated 23 September. Our discussions concerning responses to book reviews are still on-going, but we do seem to be close to reaching a consensus. For pragmatic reasons, we are unable to offer a 'right to reply': AS is a small journal which already is struggling to fit in all the contributions which are sent in, and there simply is not room for replies to reviews.
However, in a strictly limited number of cases, we will offer authors the opportunity to respond to reviews. It is initially envisaged that responses will be short: ie about 100 words. I have forwarded your letter and your response to the book review editor. He will decide whether or not to offer you the opportunity to respond to Leigh Starcross's review. Yours sincerely, Sharif Gemie.

Letter from Stewart Home to Anarchist 'Studies' editor Sharif Gemie at The University Of Glamorgan 10/10/96

Dear Sharif Gemie
Thank you for your letter dated 1 October. I am very gratefully to you for contacting the reviews editor to see if it will be possible for me to have a reply of approximately 100 words to 'Anti-Art: The Limits Of Critique'. I really appreciate you sending my initial seventeen-hundred word response to him. Since Anarchism And The Bolshevisation Of Culture is clearly to long for you to print, I have attempted to trace Leigh Starcross to ensure that he receives a copy directly from me. Since Starcross is credited at the end of his piece as belonging to the University Of Sussex, I phoned them to enquire which department he belongs to. You can imagine my shock when after being put through to the records office, I was informed that there has never been a student or a member of staff at the University Of Sussex with this name. I rather fear that Anarchist Studies has been duped by Starcross and that the academic credentials he lays claim to are entirely bogus. Since you will no doubt wish to make a thorough investigation of this affair, I would be very grateful if you could let me know what you turn up. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Stewart Home.

Letter from Anarchist 'Studies' editor Sharif Gemie at The University Of Glamorgan to Stewart Home 14/11/96

Dear Stewart
Thank you for your letter dated 10 Oct 1996. I'm sorry that I've been so slow in replying, but your letters always surprise me, and give me so much to think about.
I think that you've got confused about my status. If Leigh Starcross was a bogus pseudonym, what exactly do you think that I could do about it? Denounce her publicly? Report her to Sussex University Senate? However, rest assured, she does have a genuine corporeal existence and a legitimate connection with Sussex. In my experience, all Universities are reluctant to give away details of staff to outside callers.
I'm also happy to tell that I think we've resolved the difficulties you felt about the review of your book. The book reviews editor has told me that the Spring 1997 issue will include a positive review of your What Is Situationism?. I consider that any hurt that we may have done you in the last issue has now been absolved, and I do not see any reason for publishing any further discussion about the last review. With best wishes, Sharif.

See also 'Anarchism And The Bolshevisation Of Culture' in Disputations by Stewart Home & 'Friends' and 'My Tactics Against Anarchist Studies' in Out-Takes by Stewart Home & 'Friends'.

Anarchism And The Bolshevisation Of Culture

My Tactics Against Anarchist Studies

Feuds