You can buy Jonathan Bowden’s Extremists: Studies in Metapolitics here.
4,261 words
Edited by Greg Johnson
Editor’s Note
What follows is the first of two collections of my extant correspondence with Jonathan Bowden from 2011. Once he started sending me articles for Counter-Currents, Jonathan would typically send the entire article as an email. For brevity, I have included just the titles. The articles themselves are found on Counter-Currents.
Aside from the routine back and forth of author and publisher, this correspondence deals with Jonathan’s mental breakdown and recovery. To provide context, I also include correspondence with Adrian Davies on the same topic. Jonathan never spoke to me about his breakdown, and I never let on that I had heard about it from other sources.
Other topics include the death of Bill Hopkins, inquiries toward republishing his novel The Divine and the Decay/The Leap, abortive travel plans to the United States, and the inception of Jonathan’s first Counter-Currents book Pulp Fascism.
This correspondence is complete, as far as I can determine. There are no replies to some of Jonathan’s submission emails, but at a certain point, such formalities were unnecessary, especially if I put Jonathan’s articles online promptly.
I wish to thank Adrian Davies for permission to include his letters.
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 01:15:37 -0800
Subject: Possible Review
Dear Jonathan,
Would you be interested in reviewing George Steiner’s novella, The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H.? I would love your take on it.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
1/4/2011, 6:11 PM
Possible Review
Dear Greg Johnson,
Thanks for your recent e-mail. Yes, I would be interested in reviewing George Steiner’s The Portage to San Christobal of A.H. on Counter-Currents. It is one of those texts that I would probably have got around to eventually anyway. Believe it or not, I actually saw the play—with Alec McGowan playing Hitler—around thirty years ago at the Riverside Studios in west London. It was based on a redaction of Steiner’s effort. I took a girl I was rather keen on to the performance, but she was nauseated by the whole thing and fell asleep.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 7:23 AM
Subject: A REVIEW
George Steiner’s The Portage to San Christobal of A.H.
A Review by Jonathan Bowden
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
1/8/2011, 9:54 PM
A Review
Jonathan,
Thank you, this is brilliant.
Two things:
(1) Could you review the following passage, where a character, Benasseraf, is mentioned without being introduced or given a first name?
the dramatis personae are Emmanuel Lieber, the Nazi hunter and instigator of events, Simeon (the presiding judge at Hitler’s mock-trial) and search-party leader, as well as a young Israelite Isaac Ansell (who represents the post-war generation); and Elie Barach, an Orthodox Jew whose faith is disturbed by Benasseraf’s dream. He is the holy fool of the group—the Fool or Tom o’ Bedlam figure, if you like. For Benasseraf is mildly mentally ill, suffers flash-backs, and casts an alternative light on things. He even serves the dissentient role of an esoteric Hitlerist – albeit in reverse order.
(2) How about a title? “Hitler’s Chosen People”?
Best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
1/10/2011, 4:13 PM
A Review
Dear Greg Johnson,
Thanks for your warm comments . . . I’m afraid that I can never respond to e-mails immediately due to the fact that I have to write them in a public library with a two-hour time limit. This is due to an instinctual technophobia on my part (you understand). The fact that I have to write them (my articles) to a time limit is rather engaging—it’s like doing a post-graduate exam (voluntarily). It also means I have to do everything from memory (pretty much). But enough tedious self-gratification . . . Benasseraf is the ‘he’ in that sentence. He is the equivalent of Lear’s Fool who brings forward the moment of maximal transgression: that Hitler is the Jewish Messiah. (Steiner has taken this from mediaeval Christianity where the Anti-Christ would emerge (in all probability) from the Nation of Israel. His first name is Gideon).
You might as well title the piece The Portage to San Christobal of AH.
I appreciate that you have published it on the web-site already, so this reply is slightly behind-hand. To make it not so—this review of Steiner puts me in mind of another piece. Perdition, the Trotskyist anti-Zionist play by the now deceased Jim Allen. This was publicly banned in Britain. There’s no free speech (First Amendment rights) here, you know!
All the best.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
1/15/2011, 9:19 PM
Review of Mad!
Dear Jonathan,
I would love to run a review of Mad! if you have a chance to write one.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
1/17/2011, 5:54 PM
A Review
EUGENICS AND DYSGENICS:
a review of Moreau’s Other Island by Brian Aldiss
(Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1980)
by Jonathan Bowden
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
1/18/2011, 2:46 AM
Re: A REVIEW
Thank you, another excellent one. It is now online.
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
1/23/2011, 8:41 AM
Robert E. Howard
Dear Jonathan,
Would you be interested in writing out your ideas on Robert E. Howard? I would love to run an article on him.
I look forward to seeing you at AmRen.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 3:41 PM
Subject: My future life
Dear Greg,
This is in no way a joke e-mail. I have been threatened with death, assassination, arson and physical beatings here in the United Kingdom. I have also been partially driven from my house. The situation has become very precarious for me and I might well be killed at a time in the near future. Do I have your assistance in the future in helping me with my predicament? One of the reasons that I have been singled out is for writing for counter-currents—this has been made quite clear to me. I am in a very difficult position here in the United Kingdom.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
1/29/2011, 12:49 AM
Re: My future life
Jonathan,
I am almost broke, but if you need to get out of the UK, I can give you a place to stay and your own computer for a while, and I can surely rally some friends and supporters to help to find you find something more long-lasting. Get your visa in order. Pack your grip.
Sam Dickson might also be able to help you. He has a number of properties. He might be able to give you a place to stay for a good long time. Adrian Davies should be consulted about that.
Feel free to call me. 404-xxx-xxxx
Best,
Greg
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
1/29/2011, 12:56 AM
My Future Life
Seriously, I will do everything possible to help.
Will you be in Charlotte for AmRen?
Greg
Greg Johnson to Adrian Davies
Sent: 31 January 2011 09:29
Subject: Jonathan Bowden
Dear Adrian,
I received a disturbing email from Jonathan Bowden on Friday. He said that his life has been threatened and he has basically been forced to flee his home. He asked what I could do to help him. Unfortunately, I can do very little. Money is very tight. But I do have an extra room here, and I offered him a place to stay in San Francisco, and I also offered to help him with finding other resources.
I have not heard back from him, and I am worried. This is obviously not good, no matter what is going on.
I am wondering if you have heard anything.
I hope all is well with you.
All the best,
Greg
Adrian Davies to Greg Johnson
1/31/2011, 10:44 AM
RE: Jonathan Bowden
Dear Greg,
JB has suffered a complete nervous breakdown. The threats etc. are the product of a fevered imagination. He has been leading the British Police a merry dance, making calls to the 999 (emergency service) number to say that terrorists are out to get him. He is now under medical care after being arrested in Reading for brandishing a commando knife in the street! I hope that a few weeks’ rest and some medication will restore him to his old self. He is very unwell at present.
Best wishes,
Adrian
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
2/28/2011, 12:31 PM
A New Identity
Dear Greg,
Greetings! I apologise for not being in contact for a brief period, but I have been in considerable difficulties and have been subject to something of a ‘hate campaign’ here in Britain. This has impacted upon me professionally. I am more than willing to contribute to Counter-Currents as before, but can I do so under a pseudonym? The name John Michael McCloughlin is admitted to on an obscure part of my web-site, so it might be best if you chose one for me. Perhaps it could be Ultra-British or hyphenated (?), et cetera, I leave the choice to you. The reason for this isn’t cowardice—it’s financial survival, I’m afraid.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
2/28/2011, 12:57 PM
Subject: A New Identity
Jonathan,
I am very glad to hear from you. I was getting worried.
A new name . . . British . . . hyphenated. (I suppose Mountbatten-Windsor is out of the question.)
Well, let me think about that, but don’t let that delay you if the muse visits.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 4:06 AM
Subject: A Gift
Dear Greg,
I’ve decided to send my Collected Art (Volume One) to you care/of your box number in San Francisco. It was reviewed by Alex Kurtagic a while back on Counter-Currents and other sites. It contains most of my earlier work—about 180 images or paintings overall. It should be with you—delays in printing aside—in about a fortnight.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Feb 28/2011, 2:00 PM
A Gift
Thank you so much.
Jonathan, do you still have credit for your ticket for AmRen?
I am now making concrete plans for the private gathering I am doing this Summer in Southern California, and I would still like you to be the one and only speaker (the rest of the sessions will be panels and discussions).
The cancelation of AmRen has just increased the demand to see you speak.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
3/1/2011, 12:55 PM
A Gift
Dear Greg,
Thanks for your recent e-mail. On the point about the private gathering in Southern California mid-year, yes, I would be interested but I’m afraid that the American Renaissance ticket booked by Jared Taylor would only take me to Atlanta, Georgia, and then back from Atlanta via Detroit. I believe that the ticket was both time and date specific, so, in the end, the plane flew with a spare seat and Delta airlines just pocketed the money. Given that the entire conference ‘didn’t take place’ (sic) I imagine that it would be a small loss for Mister Taylor to bear. Will AmRen survive the fact that it can’t hold a conference anywhere in the United States, do you think? Have they thought of Alaska?
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
3/2/2011, 1:43 PM
A Gift
Dear Jonathan,
If you missed the plane, Delta generally credits the party who made the reservation the cost of the flight after 60 days. If you made the reservation, you should have the credit applied to your Delta account, and for a $150 fee, you should be able to apply the credit to another flight to the US. Look into that, and let me know. We would get you a ticket in any case, but it would be good if part of the cost could be borne by the credit from the missed AmRen flight.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
3/3/2011, 1:24 PM
A New Article
MECHANISED FRUIT: the strange case of Anthony Burgess’ CLOCKWORK ORANGE
a review by David A. Smith
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Subject: Re: A Gift
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 04:21:17 -0800
I feel silly offering you pen names, but they keep coming to mind. How about something like: Arthur Kingsley-Wake, which has some pun/symbol/myth value
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 4:36 AM
Subject: RE: A Gift
Dear Greg,
Yes, Arthur Kingsley-Wake is fine—even though it makes me sound about sixty-eight rather than 48 years of age!
Yours ever,
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
3/4/2011, 12:41 AM
A Gift
All the better cover then.
Have I sent you copies of any of our Counter-Currents titles? Let me know about TOWARD THE WHITE REPUBLIC and TAKING OUR OWN SIDE. I will send you my CONFESSIONS OF A RELUCTANT hater tomorrow.
What mailing address should I use?
All the best,
Greg
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 23:58:07 -0800
Subject: Your most recent piece
Dear Jonathan,
I worked through your most recent piece (my edit is below), but at the end it makes a real leap that I cannot follow, and I think you need to take it back and work on it some more.
I don’t frankly see how national service follows from the idea that a propensity to anti-social violence is innate. Unless you mean military service! Because otherwise I don’t see how national service is anything less “behaviorist” than the conditioning in the novel.
So give this some thought, and perhaps expand on your ideas at the end.
All the best,
Greg
A Clockwork Orange is a short novella produced by Anthony Burgess in a very short period of time—yet the author had doubtless dwelt upon an entire zoology before producing it. One of the book’s characteristics which even the most casual reader notices is the experimental language or deliberate argot that Burgess develops for his retinue of juvenile delinquents. They speak, stutter, roll around in their own minds, and tend to use words like hammers, meat-hooks or early-morning razor blades.
The story essentially revolves around the leadership principle or alpha dog mentality of Alex (the leader of this violent troupe of hoodlums) and its subjection to Skinnerian Behaviorism—a technique of which Burgess is highly critical. Paradoxically, Burgess is a highly moral and cross-grained man—a believing Catholic for most of his life—who worried extraordinarily about this novel’s reception. For—to be sure—a short work which appeared to endorse or celebrate gang violence was the last thing that Burgess, a socially conservative Catholic, meant to bring to the table.
Another provocative trope—irrespective of the furor about Kubrick’s later film and its withdrawal in Britain—was the Soviet influence on the entire production. Soviet, I hear you ask? Yes, that’s right; for the germ from which the novel springs was a trip Burgess and his wife made to the Soviet Union in which they discovered a great deal of gang violence. This surprised both of them, but it shouldn’t have really. Communist systems have a nuanced attitude towards criminality—for what they really fear, oppose, and act against, are political crimes or the ideas that give rise to them.
This was by no means an original precept. In Alexander Solzhenitysn’s The Gulag Archipelago, vol. 1, the world’s most famous anti-Soviet dissident noticed an indulgence by the guards towards the lags or general prisoners, a latitude that would not be extended towards other zeks.
As in Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, Soviets treated the proles as near-animals, and their antics—youth cults, transgressive dress, drug usage, relative disrespect for Soviet authority—were all given remarkable indulgence. Why was this, Burgess wondered?
It probably had to do with two factors: first, the fact that crime was always less important than politics; and, secondly, that the party really fed upon itself, in that the lives of inner and outer party members—as in Nineteen Eighty-Four—were held to be far more important than those of mere proles. They were literally left to go to the dogs in every imaginable way—itself completely contrary to the official proletarian discourse of love and inclusion for the down-trodden, etc.
Another factor which Burgess cleverly makes use of is the introduction of communist words, phrases, and tags (gobbets of Agit-prop and so forth) in order to tease out and make more real the lingo of his various Youthies or violent adolescent pups.
Yet having said all of this, the real point of Burgess’ short and linguistically-charged work was an attack on the way in which Alex and his droogs (pals) are re-oriented or forced into well-adjusted behavior by the “system.” Much of this, in turn, related to radical (if largely conservative commentators at the time) who wished to break the juvenile delinquency of the ‘fifties by applying eugenic measures. (Note: Following Bowden, I would describe these behaviorist measures as dysgenic rather than the reverse, but there is no agreed definition here.)
What Burgess quite clearly objects to here is state-imposed morality. The way in which he dramatizes this is quite original—in that Alex, the Caesar of his gang, loves classical music and the reconditioning causes him to loathe his former joy (Beethoven, etc.). Yet this is one of Burgess’ own mistakes—given that the Droogs bear a striking similarity to the British sub-culture known as the Mods. Can you imagine a Quadraphonic (sic) sub-culturalist who prefers Colin Ireland to, say, The Who?
Yet Burgess definitely has a point here, in that the destructive side of behaviorist intervention was in its infancy then—although Burgess, with much greater insight than more “progressive” commentators, realizes that much of the gang’s behavior is innate, biological, pre-social, or somatic in character.
But if the propensity to anti-social vioAll of which leads to the inescapable insight that some form of national service in Britain, France, Russia, etc. is vitally necessary for around at least forty percent (and more) of the young male population. If you fold this proposition out a bit, then even Anthony Burgess would have to do it—along with all bourgeois and proletarian males who were not mentally impaired or physically ill. Heaven forbid!
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
3/4/2011, 1:09 PM
Dear Greg,
Yes, I agree, although in British usage national and military service are co-determinous—they mean exactly the same thing in British diction and cultural history.
Any publications can always be sent via my box number. This is:
JONATHAN BOWDEN
BM REFINE
LONDON
WC1N 3XX.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
3/4/2011, 10:39 PM
Your Most Recent Piece
I still think you need to explain how military service is not just another kind of social conditioning.
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 00:11:27 -0800
Subject: Conference
Dear Jonathan,
I just wanted to let you know that the conference is on for this July, 29, 30, and 31 in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California. So mark those dates on your calendar, and we will start making plans to get you a ticket.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 3:56 AM
Subject: RE: Conference
Dear Greg,
Thanks, I’ve noted down the dates which you’ve sent me. They will come around quite quickly—as is the way with such things. All I need is a ticket there and back (preferably from London, Heathrow) and someone who can put me up in Orange County over the requisite dates. I seem to recall that Costa Mesa is a very picturesque part of the country. Am I right?
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:04:28 -0800
Subject: Re: Conference
Yes, it is a very lovely area. I will start looking for flights. How long can you be away from home on this trip?
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
3/10/2011, 1:09 PM
Conference
Dear Greg,
There is no particular time-limit, but I would probably begin to get a bit restive after two weeks (just to give you an idea).
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
March 11/2011, 12:46 PM
Finishing an Article
ANTHONY BURGESS’ Clockwork Orange . . . continued on from where the article leaves off. This paragraph begins after the statement: Heaven forbid!
Now many commentators might consider this to be just another form of invasive or statal procedure—possibly less invasive but in no way less ‘demeaning’ than the technique used in Burgess’ Clockwork Orange. This would certainly veer it into territory covered by Alan Sillitoe in the ‘fifties (say) or a grainy, black-and-white film called The Hill (about British military prison or the glass house) and that starred young versions of Stanley Baker and Sean Connery. Nonetheless, these procedures are mass oriented, somatic, physical and work on the external trappings of young males—almost in a semi-anthropological way. They lack the internal craft, guile—or cruelty—of Burgess’ statal behaviourism and criminology in his short novel. The point here is that they limit Alex’s internal freedom of choice in relation to his passion for classical music. They are malefic in an intentional, a priori or willed manner – partly due to the individualism of the punishment, the latter personally selected to match with the trainee’s particularities. Ultimately then, Burgess’ fable revolves around the endless argument between free will and intentionality at the heart of Western thinking. (Note: even the Chorus in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon debates whether Clytemnestra’s murder of her husband is entirely self-elected or an inevitable outcome of Zeus’ will). It is always there. Burgess is a conservative and a pessimist—he is an Augustinian child. He believes that the punishment follows after the facts, is self-limiting and does not seek to change human nature. Man cannot change—he can just learn to endure better.
(Dear Greg, I have added a brief paragraph to my article about Anthony Burgess’ novella, Clockwork Orange. Hopefully it should explicate, expand and round off some of the points raised by this piece’s denouement.)
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
3/11/2011, 1:01 PM
Finishing an Article
Thanks for this, I will run it Saturday.
Greg
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
3/27/2011, 9:41 AM
Dear Jonathan,
Thank you for sending me the art book, which arrived this week. I will send you my book next week. I had to get it reprinted. I will also slip in a couple of our other titles.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
4/2/2011, 3:37 PM
Dissemination of e-books
Dear Greg,
I would be very grateful if you could disseminate or distribute these e-books for me in a manner which you feel to be appropriate. It could be mutually beneficial (culturally speaking). The links to them are as follows:
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/kratos.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/apocalypse_tv.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/the_fanatical_pursuit_of_purity.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/al_qaeda_moth.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/a_ballet_of_wasps.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/lilith_before_eve.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/goodbye_homunculus.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/omnibus_1.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/omnibus_2.pdf
http://www.jonathanbowden.co.uk/ebooks/louisiana_half_face.pdf
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
4/4/2011, 5:59 AM
Re: Dissemination of e-books
Dear Jonathan,
I would be happy to put up a post disseminating these e-books.
I hope you will be doing some more writing for us soon.
All the best,
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
4/16/2001
Recent Books
Dear Greg,
Thanks for the packet of books that have just recently arrived. I must say that they seem to be very well designed! Thanks again…
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:22:28 -0400
Subject: Re: RECENT BOOKS
Jonathan,
I am glad you like the covers, and I am eager to know your thoughts on the contents.
Would you be able to stay in the US between mid-August and early September and speak in several locations? I think we could organize a speaking tour for you.
Greg
Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson
4/18/2011, 4:20 PM
Dear Greg,
Thanks for your recent e-mail . . . as to the suggestion about a speaking tour, it would be difficult for me spend more than two weeks away from the United Kingdom at any one time. I will give the matter some thought, however. I presume that the conference in California is still going ahead in and around the week-end of the 29th of July? You mentioned the possibility of this several months back. I would be grateful for a confirmation in this respect. All the best.
Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden
www.jonathanbowden.co.uk
Adrian Davies to Greg Johnson
4/25/2011
Jonathan Bowden
Dear Greg,
Just a quick note to say that I saw Jonathan Bowden to-day for the first time since his “turn” earlier this year. He is certainly much better now, though somewhat subdued. I gather that a side effect of the medication that he is taking is that the patient becomes quiet and subdued, a remarkable (and far from welcome) change in JB.
That said, he has plainly made good progress since his acute attack earlier this year, and is much better. I do hope that with time he will make progress towards a full recovery. He is already interested in beginning to speak in public again, which is an encouraging sign.
JB seems enthusiastic about your late July conference, which is also in my diary. It is well timed from my point of view, as I was planning family visiting in Southern California around that time anyway!
Best wishes,
Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden
5/4/2011, 8:00 PM
Hello
Dear Jonathan,
We lost the venue for our conference this summer. I am going to do a much smaller “retreat” for writers and donors. I cannot, unfortunately, afford to bring you over for that. I would encourage you to contact Richard Spencer, though, since he would very much like you to speak at his event in September.
I am attaching the proofs of your Arkham Asylum piece, which I will include in the first volume of North American New Right. Please let me know if there are changes, and thank you again for a very fine piece of writing.
I hope your muse revisits you soon. I would love to have more of your work in our pages, no matter what pen name you use.
All the best,
Greg