Herman Gorter (1864 - 1927)

Sat Nov 26, 1864

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Herman Gorter, born on this day in 1864, was a prominent Dutch poet and council communist. He was a leading member of the “Tachtigers”, a highly influential group of Dutch writers who worked together in Amsterdam in the 1880s.

Gorter’s first book, a 4,000 verse epic poem called “Mei” (May), helped establish his reputation as a great writer upon its publication in 1889, and is regarded by critics as the pinnacle of Dutch Impressionist literature.

Gorter was also an outspoken advocate of revolutionary communism and Marxist theory. In 1917, he hailed the Russian Revolution as the beginning of that global revolution and had correspondence with Lenin on multiple occasions, wishing him well and asking for his support in condemning Dutch social democrats for not condemning American imperialism.

Lenin sent Gorter a copy of “State and Revolution” in response, which Gorter then offered to translate.

“Your words will be an incentive to me, once again, and to an even greater extent than before, to base my judgement in all matters of tactics, also in the revolution, exclusively on reality, on the actual class-relations, as they manifest themselves politically and economically.”

- Herman Gorter, in "Open Letter to Comrade Lenin"