作者: Robert Blatchford

Robert Blatchford (17 March 1851 – 17 December 1943) was a prominent English socialist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An influential writer and campaigner for social justice, Blatchford”s work focused on the plights of the working class, which he referred to as “the bottom dog”. His socialist beliefs stemmed from his experiences in the army and the stark poverty he witnessed in industrial Manchester. Blatchford”s passion for socialist reform is evident in his seminal work, “Not Guilty: A Defence of the Bottom Dog” (1898), in which he confronted the prevailing social Darwinism and ethical questions surrounding the distribution of wealth and negligence toward the poverty-stricken population. Blatchford”s literary style combined frank exposition with an emphatic, persuasive rhetoric designed to awaken the social conscience of his readers. His influence extended beyond literature into active social reform and political debate, contributing significantly to the rise of socialist thought in Britain. The legacy of Robert Blatchford lies not only in his activism and written works but also in his role as a founding father of the British Labour movement, advocating for the rights and welfare of workers throughout the United Kingdom. Through “Not Guilty” and his other publications, Blatchford left an indelible mark on British social thought and literature.