Joseph "Usick" Vanzler (November 29, 1901 – June 21, 1956), best known by the pseudonymJohn G. Wright, was a Jewish-Americansocialist, activist and translator. Vanzler is best known as the translator of a number of the important works of Leon Trotsky — materials which helped to establish to expand the influence of the Trotskyist movement in the English-speaking world.
Joseph Vanzler, known to all who knew him by the nickname "Usick," was born in 1901 in Samarkand, then part of the Russian Empire and today part of Uzbekistan. An ethnic Jew, Joseph was the son of a glasscutter (who had his own shop at Dzhamskaya Str., 19).[1][2]
Vanzler was permitted to attend Russian-language school, institutions which strictly limited Jewish enrollment as part of a policy of official antisemitism under the Tsarist regime.[2] In school, Vanzler studied a variety of languages, including Russian, Latin, Greek, and French.[2] He developed a proficiency for language study which served him throughout his life as a multi-lingual translator.
Following World War I, Vanzler and his mother emigrated to the United States, settling in Boston, Massachusetts. Vanzler attended Harvard University (then Harvard College), where he studied Chemistry for an extensive period. Although he left without a degree, Vanzler developed a formula for spermicidal jelly for use as a birth control measure and he became engaged in its manufacture and sale.[3]
In the 1920s Vanzler married Edith Rose Konikow, the daughter of birth control activist Dr. Antoinette Konikow, a Bostonphysician and founding member of the Communist Party of America. Under the influence of his wife and mother-in-law, Vanzler was initiated into the world of radical politics.[3]
Political careeredit
Vanzler joined the Communist League of America, the main American Trotskyist political organization of the day, in 1933.[3] He began using the pseudonym "John G. Wright" at this time and began to produce a vast array of translations from Russian and French to English on behalf of the political movement to which he gave his allegiance.
Vanzler was a founding member of the Socialist Workers Party in 1938. He was a member of its governing National Committee from 1938 until his death in 1956.
Vanzler was a prolific writer for the Trotskyist press, contributing several hundred articles to its weekly newspaper, The Militant, and to its monthly theoretical magazine, The New International (later Fourth International).[4]
Death and legacyedit
Joseph Vanzler died of a heart attack on June 21, 1956 in New York City. He was 55 years old at the time of his death.
Vanzler was survived by his first wife, Edith Konikow Vanzler, and their son, Tyl, and by his second wife, Doris Vanzler, and their son who was born in 1952.
^ abcWolfgang Lubitz and Petra Lubitz, "John G. Wright: Bio-Bibliography," Lubitz TrotskyanaNet, October 31, 2005; pg. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
^ abcWolfgang Lubitz and Petra Lubitz, "John G. Wright," pg. 2.
^Wolfgang Lubitz and Petra Lubitz, "John G. Wright," pg. 3.
Worksedit
Writingsedit
The Truth About Kronstadt. New York: Socialist Workers Party National Educational Department, n.d. [c. 1938].
Outline History of Russian Bolshevism. With Joe Hansen. New York: Educational Department, Socialist Workers Party, 1940.
Translationsedit
Leon Trotsky, The Kirov Assassination. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1935.
Leon Trotsky, The Third International After Lenin. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1936.
Leon Trotsky, Whither France? New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1936.
Leon Trotsky, Lessons of October. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1937.
Leon Trotsky, The Stalin School of Falsification. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1937.
Leon Trotsky, The First Five Years of the Communist International. In two volumes. New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1945.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Joseph Vanzler
John G. Wright (Joseph Vanzler) Internet Archive. Marxists Internet Archive, Marxists.org. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
April 10, 2024
joseph, vanzler, joseph, usick, vanzler, november, 1901, june, 1956, best, known, pseudonym, john, wright, jewish, american, socialist, activist, translator, vanzler, best, known, translator, number, important, works, leon, trotsky, materials, which, helped, e. Joseph Usick Vanzler November 29 1901 June 21 1956 best known by the pseudonym John G Wright was a Jewish American socialist activist and translator Vanzler is best known as the translator of a number of the important works of Leon Trotsky materials which helped to establish to expand the influence of the Trotskyist movement in the English speaking world Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 Political career 1 3 Death and legacy 2 Footnotes 3 Works 3 1 Writings 3 2 Translations 4 External linksBiography editEarly years edit Joseph Vanzler known to all who knew him by the nickname Usick was born in 1901 in Samarkand then part of the Russian Empire and today part of Uzbekistan An ethnic Jew Joseph was the son of a glasscutter who had his own shop at Dzhamskaya Str 19 1 2 Vanzler was permitted to attend Russian language school institutions which strictly limited Jewish enrollment as part of a policy of official antisemitism under the Tsarist regime 2 In school Vanzler studied a variety of languages including Russian Latin Greek and French 2 He developed a proficiency for language study which served him throughout his life as a multi lingual translator Following World War I Vanzler and his mother emigrated to the United States settling in Boston Massachusetts Vanzler attended Harvard University then Harvard College where he studied Chemistry for an extensive period Although he left without a degree Vanzler developed a formula for spermicidal jelly for use as a birth control measure and he became engaged in its manufacture and sale 3 In the 1920s Vanzler married Edith Rose Konikow the daughter of birth control activist Dr Antoinette Konikow a Boston physician and founding member of the Communist Party of America Under the influence of his wife and mother in law Vanzler was initiated into the world of radical politics 3 Political career edit Vanzler joined the Communist League of America the main American Trotskyist political organization of the day in 1933 3 He began using the pseudonym John G Wright at this time and began to produce a vast array of translations from Russian and French to English on behalf of the political movement to which he gave his allegiance Vanzler was a founding member of the Socialist Workers Party in 1938 He was a member of its governing National Committee from 1938 until his death in 1956 Vanzler was a prolific writer for the Trotskyist press contributing several hundred articles to its weekly newspaper The Militant and to its monthly theoretical magazine The New International later Fourth International 4 Death and legacy edit Joseph Vanzler died of a heart attack on June 21 1956 in New York City He was 55 years old at the time of his death Vanzler was survived by his first wife Edith Konikow Vanzler and their son Tyl and by his second wife Doris Vanzler and their son who was born in 1952 Footnotes edit Samarkand 1902 Yearbook p 120 a b c Wolfgang Lubitz and Petra Lubitz John G Wright Bio Bibliography Lubitz TrotskyanaNet October 31 2005 pg 1 Retrieved April 8 2010 a b c Wolfgang Lubitz and Petra Lubitz John G Wright pg 2 Wolfgang Lubitz and Petra Lubitz John G Wright pg 3 Works editWritings edit The Truth About Kronstadt New York Socialist Workers Party National Educational Department n d c 1938 Outline History of Russian Bolshevism With Joe Hansen New York Educational Department Socialist Workers Party 1940 Translations edit Leon Trotsky The Kirov Assassination New York Pioneer Publishers 1935 Leon Trotsky The Third International After Lenin New York Pioneer Publishers 1936 Leon Trotsky Whither France New York Pioneer Publishers 1936 Leon Trotsky Lessons of October New York Pioneer Publishers 1937 Leon Trotsky The Stalin School of Falsification New York Pioneer Publishers 1937 Leon Trotsky The First Five Years of the Communist International In two volumes New York Pioneer Publishers 1945 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Joseph Vanzler John G Wright Joseph Vanzler Internet Archive Marxists Internet Archive Marxists org Retrieved April 8 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Vanzler amp oldid 1161750024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
