This book was written in the 1970s, but is so relevant to today's political climate. I am going to reread this, as there was just so much interesting information.

I first read the Romance of American Communism in 1980 when I was 20 years old and just out of college. In the late 1970’s I found feminism and my world changed forever. How I saw, how I felt, and how I loved was impacted. New ways of being, seeing and loving reshaped my belief system but more importantly it reshaped my inner life and in some ways, my personality. I am now 60 and my relationship to feminism has shifted. There have been political battles and broken connections but I am still remember the falling in love and there is nothing like it. And I am still in awe.
When I read the Romance of American Communism it was the only book that best described my own political and emotional journey. I felt like I knew these people, understood their commitments, their dedication and how life was meaningful and deep. I gobbled it up and read it again. Although I did not know much about Communism or American Communism it was the affective experience of reading about people like me that made me cherish it so.

Of course, the lie was exposed and the dreams and hopes of American Communists died. Grief, fury, guilt, depression and a host of other reactions ricocheted throughout the movement. Ms. Gornick and especially her mother grieved it too.

It seems a perfect time to read The Romance of American Communism given the passion, dedication and determination of Blacks Lives Matter. Political change will sweep you in and change you forever.

Glad this is back in print at this important tumultuous time in our history.Thevauthor is always fascinating explains our country well.Perfect for book club discussions.#netgalley#versobooks

This is second book by this author that I read, and she is one of those authors that can write about any subject and make it interesting because of her intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm. I would definitely purchase a copy of this book and any of the authors other books.

I received a preview for this book. I was given a e-copy of the introduction for the book and found it to be very compelling and beautifully written. I look forward to reading the book in full and doing a deeper dive into Gornick's body of work because the voice was so wonderful: clear, strong, warm and adept.

Glad this is back in print. It offers real insight into a country at odds with itself. A rich treasury of knowledge.

A classic, obviously. Gornick’s own retrospective misgivings about the book (expressed in the preface) don’t really do justice to how complex and ambivalent it is.

The book was provided NetGalley, the author and the publisher in exchange of an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Republished in 2020 alongside a personal essay, The Romance of American Communism provides a fascinating insight in to the personal lives of Communist Activists through the decades. In the essay accompanying the 2020 edition, Gornick is extremely self-critical of the text: she (rightly) acknowledges that the text does not focus on an objective history of this sub-group. Rather, Gornick paints a dynamic portrait of the vibrant relationships, internal turmoil and various historical influences impacting leading Communist Activists.

Overall, this text is extremely informative and is a must-read for anyone who calls themselves a communist.

NOTE: Whilst I found the text extremely informative, the introductory essay contained some very long-winded sentences that could have been phrased more concisely (e.g. 70-word sentences).