New compilation of lost writings of James Connolly to be launched at Derry Radical Bookfair

Author and historian Conor McCabe will deliver a talk on the ‘The Lost & Early Writings of James Connolly 1889 – 1898’ at Pilots Row at 2pm on Saturday, February 1.

The book unveils the formative years of one of the 20th century’s most influential socialist thinkers and revolutionary leaders.

The Lost and Early Writings of James Connolly, 1889-1898 unveils the formative years of one of the 20th century’s most influential socialist thinkers and revolutionary leaders. In this groundbreaking collection, historian Conor McCabe brings together Connolly’s earliest articles, letters, and speeches, many of which have remained unpublished or inaccessible for over a century.

These writings offer a rare glimpse into Connolly’s evolving political thought as he navigated the fight for workers’ rights, socialism, and Irish independence. Through his sharp critiques of capitalism and imperialism, Connolly laid the intellectual groundwork for the radical movements that would later define his legacy.

This collection not only captures Connolly’s intellectual rigor but also his deep personal commitment to the working class and the oppressed. From his early involvement in Scottish socialist circles to his growing leadership in Ireland, Connolly’s writings reveal a thinker who was as much a man of action as of theory. His early works show the seeds of what would become his revolutionary strategy—a blend of Marxist analysis, Irish republicanism, and a fierce advocacy for international solidarity. For readers, this volume offers a window into the life of a young rebel whose ideas would ignite movements far beyond his time and place.

With meticulous editing and historical context, this volume is an indispensable resource for scholars of labor history, Marxism, and Irish studies, while also remaining accessible to a broader audience eager to explore the origins of Connolly’s revolutionary ideas.

The Lost and Early Writings offers both a scholarly analysis of Connolly’s early political development and a compelling narrative of a revolutionary mind in the making.

This collection is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of Connolly’s thought and his enduring influence on global struggles for justice and equality—as well as their relevance to modern day liberation struggles.

The Derry Radical Bookfair are delighted to welcome and introduce author Conor McCabe to a Derry audience and his new publication. Please join us a we meet the author who will give a talk on the lost and rediscovered writings and their relevance today.

Book launch and talk takes place at the Derry Radical Bookfair in Pilots Row Community Centre, Bogside, Derry at 2pm promptly.