The life of the fascinating character Arthur Desmond (1859-1929), (most known to have written the infamous book "Might is Right" under the pseudonym Ragnar Redbeard), is very interesting. It all starts in New Zealand 1884, when a young and unknown cattle-drover named Arthur Desmond stood for the Parliament Election in Hastings—as the radical candidate.

Biography Arthur Desmond "Ragnar Redbeard" (1859-1929)

Summarized points:

• Arthur Desmond born 1859, from Irish and English ancestry lived in Napier, New Zealand. Arthur died January 23, 1929 in Chicago.

• Up til 1884 the only reference to Arthur Desmond are some sporadic articles in local press. Then all of a sudden the unknown Arthur Desmond stood as candidate for the parliament election in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Desmond came last.

• 1885 Arthur Desmond publish "The Passing Way of the land" on the alienation of maori land. (The first known publication by Arthur Desmond.)

• In 1887 Arthur Desmond stood for parliament a second time.

• June 1890 Arthur Desmond publish "Christ as a social reformer" in the Dunedin magazine Zealandia. (An article which caused accusations of plagiarism.) He also published the short lived "The Tribune." Desmond kept busy writing, agitating, and fighting for worker's rights during the Maritime strike.

• In 1892 Arthur Desmond left New Zealand for Sydey, Australia.

• In between 1893-1894 Arthur Desmond spent time in jail for writing the words "GONE BUNG" on the Savings Bank in Barrack Street. He put out journals like "The New Order," "The Standard Bearer," and probably the most known "Hard Cash," "A Magazine for Finance, Politics and Religion." He also started The Active Service Brigade which objectives were; "For the Nation—Social Co-operation. For the Citizen—Emancipation from Poverty Conditions, Competitive Commercialism, Industrial Wage Slavery, Tyrannical Authority, and Mental Bondage." Arthur Desmond eventually left the Active Service Brigade, John Dwyer (who wrote The Anarchist, published in "Anarchy—The Coming Terror: Courage, Freedom, and Revolution.") then kept it going. Eventually, not wanting to end up in jail, Arthur Desmond fled Australia permanently for Chicago, U. S. A.

Recommended reading for the early years in New Zealand & Australia:

• ARTHUR DESMOND: A RADICAL DEMAGOGUE
• CHRIST AS A SOCIAL REFORMER & WRITINGS IN RED
• Anarchy—The Coming Terror: Courage, Freedom, and Revolution

Recommended reading for the Chicago years:

• THE HOUSE OF GOWRIE and THURLAND & THURLAND: THE DEVIL'S BOOK AGENTS

VISIT Gavin Gowrie's A Thousand Books of Fame - Books sold and promoted by Arthur Desmond (as Richard Thurland and Gavin Gowrie) through his mail order book business.

For EVERYONE interested in sources, inspiration, and origin of Ragnar Redbeard's poems:

• RAGNAR REDBEARD'S UNMASKED POEMS: Batteries of pristine scorn and revolutionary songs

Biography Ragnar Redbeard 1859-1929

As you are about to find out Arthur Desmond used a plethora of pseudonyms throughout his life, and perhaps there's even some yet to be discovered. What is known, is that he wrote that infamous book "Might is Right," under his pen-name Ragnar Redbeard.

Arthur Desmond wrote books, edited newspapers, published journals and articles in New Zealand, Australia, England, and America. He also contributed to and distributed the fantastic "The Eagle And The Serpent." (1898-1902, 1927*) A Journal of Egoistic philosophy and Sociology. Edited by John Basil Barnhill using the pseudonym of John Erwin Mccall. *Edited by Richard G. McKnight [ed.]