The French socialist Daniel Guérin was one of the most interesting political writers of the twentieth century. He was deeply involved in struggles for justice and equality, and much in his work remains relevant to our own time.

Guérin took part in the resistance to the Nazi occupation of France and campaigned against French colonial rule in Africa and Asia when it seemed all-powerful. He was a pioneer of gay liberation when it was a marginal, stigmatized cause, even within left-wing circles. Guérin also sought to foster dialogue between different ideological currents on the Left, Marxist and anarchist, instead of promoting one tradition above all others.

The remarkable story of Guérin’s political and intellectual career, which we can only summarize here, is full of important lessons for the socialist movement of today. Guérin’s work deserves to find a new generation of readers who can pick up the thread of the struggles in which he took part.