James P. Cannon and the origins of the American revolutionary left, 1890-1928 /

James Patrick Cannon (1890-1974) was a major figure in the US communist movement during most of the 1920s. He was the party's first national chair in 1921 but was expelled as a Trotskyist in 1928. Although there are major biographies of such party leaders as William Z. Foster (Forging American Communism, CH, Oct'94, 32-1150, by Edward Johanningsmeier; William Z. Foster and the Tragedy of American Radicalism, CH, Oct'00, 38-1121, by James Barrett), Jay Lovestone (A Covert Life, by Ted Morgan, 1999), and Earl Browder (Earl Browder: The Failure of American Communism, CH, Sep'97, 35-0477, by James Ryan), any scholarly life of Cannon has been lacking. Hence, Palmer (Trent Univ.) fills a major gap. In a highly sympathetic account, the author often internalizes Cannon's views, even making the highly debatable claim that Stalinism broke from the "ideas and theoretical premises of Lenin." Palmer shows a superb grasp of the relevant secondary literature, combing memoirs, the Cannon and Browder papers, FBI reports, and microfilmed Russian documents. His clear writing carries readers through an arcane world of ever-shifting alliances, factions, and ideological polemics. The book is particularly strong on Cannon's impoverished Kansas youth, dysfunctional family life, early days as a hobo, organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World, and participant in meetings of the Communist International. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. J. D. Doenecke New College of Florida