LAND AND FREEDOM looks at differing strains within the anarchist movement during the peak of its popularity – when it seemed, for a time, that the dream of anarchist revolution might come to pass. This was an era of social ferment and experimentation, including communal living, nudism and gender equality; educational reform designed to usher in the development of “the new man”; the resurgence of propaganda of the deed in the guise of violent robberies and shootouts with police; and the participation of anarchists in revolutions from Mexico to Russia.

While it seemed that the dream of an anarchist revolution was within grasp, World War I would put an end to popular revolt, as young men went to the front. A movement that had once seemed poised to take over the world was now severely weakened.

Au lendemain de la Première Guerre mondiale, aux quatre coins du monde, les anarchistes ne doivent plus seulement se contenter d’imaginer de douces utopies et inventer de généreuses pratiques. Ils doivent, plus que jamais, prouver dans les faits l’efficacité de leur pensée en menant, sur tous les fronts, une guerre contre l’hydre totalitaire qui menace d’engloutir l’humanité.