| Between January 11 and 18 (24 and 31) | The miscellany of articles The Agrarian Question, Part I, by Lenin (Vl. Ilyin) appears in St. Petersburg. |
| January 20 (February 2) | Lenin writes A. M. Gorky, asking him to send articles or parts of his latest works of fiction for the first issues of the newspaper Proletary, which was being prepared for publication abroad. |
| February 11 (24) | Lenin calls a meeting of the Proletary Editorial Board in connection with the report in Die Neue Zeit concerning the struggle on questions of philosophy within the R.S.D.L.P. The meeting unanimously approves the text of Proletary’s editorial statement drawn up by Lenin. |
| February 12 (25) | In a letter to A. M. Gorky, Lenin urges the necessity of waging an irreconcilable struggle against the Russian Machists (Bogdanov and others). |
| February 13 (26) | Issue No. 21 of Proletary featuring Lenin’s article “Political Notes” appears in Geneva. |
| Between February 15 and 20 (February 28 and March 4) | The Bolshevik Collection Current Life containing Chapter XII of Lenin’s book The Agrarian Question and the “Critics of Marx” under the heading “The ‘Ideal Country’ From the Standpoint of the Opponents of Marxism on the Agrarian Question” is published in St. Petersburg. |
| Second half of February (beginning of March) | Issue No. 1 of Sotsial-Demokrat, the Central Organ of the R.S.D.L.P., appears with Lenin’s article “The Debate on the Extension of the Duma’s Budgetary Powers”. |
| February 19 (March 3) | Lenin’s articles “The New Agrarian Policy”, “Trade-Union Neutrality”, and “The Happening to the King of Portugal” are published in Proletary, No. 22. |
| Between February 27 and March 6 (March 11 and 19) | The second revised edition of Lenin’s book The Development of Capitalism in Russia appears in St. Petersburg. |
| February | Lenin begins writing his book Materialism and Empirio-criticism. |
| March 5 (18) | Lenin, on behalf of the R.S.D.L.P., delivers a speech on the significance of the Paris Commune at an international meeting in Geneva held in commemoration of three dates—the twenty-fifth anniversary of Marx’s death, the sixtieth anniversary of the Revolution of 1848, and Paris Commune Day |
| March 12 (25) | Lenin’s articles “A Police-Patriotic Demonstration Made to Order”, “Deception of the People by the Liberals”, and “An Estimate of Marx by International Liberalism” are published in Proletary, No. 25. |
| First half of February | Lenin begins work on the book Materialism and Empirio-criticism, becomes a member of the Société de Lecture in Geneva and reads philosophical literature in its library. |
| January 25 (February 7) | Lenin informs A. M. Gorky by letter that he has been carefully reading the works of Bogdanov, Bazarov, Lunacharsky and other Machists and is convinced that their philosophical views are erroneous. “I am for materialism, against ‘empirio’ and so forth,” he writes. |
| January 31 (February 13) | In a letter to A. M. Gorky, Lenin controverts his stand on questions of philosophy; he defends the materialism of Marx and Engels. |
| February 11 (24) | Lenin attends a conference of the editorial board of the newspaper Proletary in connection with the note in Die Neue Zeit about the struggle in the R.S.D.L.P. on questions of philosophy. The conference unanimously adopts Lenin’s text of a statement by the editorial board of Proletary, which stresses that the philosophical controversy is not of a factional nature and that the whole attempt to present differences on philosophy as factional is radically wrong. |
| February, before the 12th (25th) | Lenin writes to relatives in St. Petersburg, asking them to find and send him his philosophical manuscript of 1906 attacking Bogdanov’s empirio-monism, which he intends to reprint under the heading “Notes of an Ordinary Marxist on Philosophy”. |
| February 12 (25) | Lenin writes to A. M. Gorky on the need for an irreconcilable struggle against Machism and the Russian Machists (Bogdanov and others); he outlines the history of the differences among the Bolsheviks on questions of philosophy, which have been aggravated by the publication of the Machists’ book Studies in the Philosophy of Marxism. |
| March 11 (24) | In a letter to A. M. Gorky, Lenin gives a strongly adverse estimate of the Machists book Studies in the Philosophy of Marxism; he stresses the need for combating the Machists on philosophical questions. |
| Second half of March-not later than April 3 (16) | Lenin writes the article “Marxism and Revisionism” for the symposium Karl Marx (1818-83). In his notes to the article Lenin speaks of his intention in the near future to combat Studies in the Philosophy of Marxism in a number of articles or a special pamphlet. |
| Not earlier than March-not later than October 14 (27) | Lenin reads and makes notes in J. Dietzgen’s Keinere philosophische Schriften. Eine Auswahl (Minor Philosophical Writings. A Selection), Stuttgart, Dietz, 1903. Lenin makes wide use of this book for his Materialism and Empirio-criticism. |
| April 3 (16) | Lenin informs A. M. Gorky by letter of the “formal declaration of war” on the Machists, having in mind his article “Marxism and Revisionism”. Lenin writes in a letter to A. V. Lunacharsky that he has parted company with the advocates of “combining scientific socialism with religion” and with all the Machists. |
| Between April 10 and 17 (23 and 30) | At A. M. Gorky’s request, Lenin visits him in Capri. Lenin informs A. Bogdanov, V. Bazarov and A. V. Lunacharsky of his absolute divergence from them on questions of philosophy. |
| April | Lenin reads F. Engels’ article “Über historischen Materialismus” (“On Historical Materialism”) printed in the magazine Die Neue Zeit, No. 1, XI Jahrgang, I. Band, 1892/93, and makes notes in it. Lenin uses Engels’ article for the book Materialism and Empirio-criticism. |
| May |
Lenin works in the library of the British Museum in London on the literature dealing with philosophy and natural science not available in the Geneva libraries. He needed this literature for writing Materialism and Empirio-criticism. Lenin writes “Ten Questions to a Lecturer”, which he sends from London as theses for the speech of I. F. Dubrovinsky (Innokenty) on the occasion of the lecture entitled “Adventures of One Philosophical School” given by A. Bogdanov in Geneva on May 15 (28), 1908. |
| End of May-beginning of June | On his return to Geneva from London, at a meeting of the editorial board of Proletary, Lenin and I. F. Dubrovinsky reject A. Bogdanov’s draft resolution which stated that advocacy of empirio-criticism “does not contradict” the interests of the Bolshevik faction, and which proposed to condemn I. F. Dubrovinsky’s speech on A. Bogdanov’s lecture. |
| Not before May | Lenin reads G. V. Plekhanov’s book Fundamental Problems of Marxism (St. Petersburg, 1908) and makes notes in it. |
| June 7 (20) | In a letter to M. A. Ulyanova, Lenin expresses regret that P. G. Dauge, the “Moscow Philosopher-Editor”, had refused to print Materialism and Empirio-criticism and he asks for another publisher to be found. |
| June 18 (July 1) | In a letter to V. V. Vorovsky in Odessa, Lenin writes that the differences with A. Bogdanov and G. A. Alexinsky have sharpened and a break with them is inevitable; he enquires about the possibility of his book on philosophy being published. |
| June 30 (July 13) | Lenin informs M. I. Ulyanova by letter about his work on Materialism and Empirio-criticism and asks for G. I. Chelpanov’s two books, Avenarius and His School and Immanentist Philosophy, to be sent to him. |
| August | In the name of the editorial board of Proletary Lenin demands that A. Bogdanov should give a public exposition in the press of his philosophical and political views. |
| September | Lenin writes the preface to Materialism and Empirio-criticism. He gives the manuscript of his book to V. F. Gorin (Galkin) to read through. |
| October 14 (27) | Lenin informs A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova in a letter that he has completed his work on the book Materialism and Empirio-criticism, and asks for a reliable address to which to send the manuscript and, if at all possible, to conclude an agreement for the book’s publication. |
| October 26 (November 8) | In a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova Lenin asks for an address to which to send the manuscript of Materialism and Empirio-criticism; he agrees, in the event of the censorship being particularly severe, to replace the word “clericalism” in the book by the word “fideism”, explaining its meaning in a footnote. |
| October 28 (November 10) | In a letter to the Machist Menshevik P. S. Yushkevich in St. Petersburg, Lenin rejects the suggestion that he should contribute to the literary-philosophical symposium which it was proposed to publish. |
| November, before the 4th (17th) | Lenin sends the manuscript of Materialism and Empirio-criticism to V. A. Levitsky in Podolsk. |
| November 13 (26) | In a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova, Lenin acknowledges the receipt of her letter of November 9 (22), which mentioned that the manuscript of Materialism and Empirio-criticism had been received; he proposes that in the absence of another publisher the manuscript should be sent to V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich at the Zhizn i Znanie (Life and Knowledge) Publishers; he asks for an addition to the text at the end of the “Introduction”, where mention is made of N. Valentinov. |
| November 27 (December 10) |
In a telegram to A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova, Lenin agrees to accept the conditions of the Zveno Publishers in Moscow for the publication of Materialism and Empirio-criticism. In a letter to M. A. Ulyanova, Lenin asks A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova to expedite the drawing up of the agreement with the Zveno Publishers and insists that the agreement should contain a demand for immediate publication of the book Materialism and Empirio-criticism; he advises that the agreement should be concluded in his name and not in that of Anna Ilyinichna in order to avoid her being involved in responsibility under the press laws. |
| Between November 29 and December 1 (December 12 and 14) | Lenin and N. K. Krupskaya move from Geneva to Paris, the city to which the publication of the newspaper Proletary was being transferred. |
| December 6 (19) | In a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova, Lenin agrees to a softening of the tone in regard to Bazarov and Bogdanov but objects to softening the expressions relating to Yushkevich and Valentinov in Materialism and Empirio-criticism; he announces his agreement to changing the words “clericalism” “mentally projected a god”, and so on, only if the publisher demands it by an ultimatum for censorship reasons. |
| December 11 (24) | In a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Yelizarova, Lenin asks to send him a copy of the uncorrected proofs and later the printed sheets of Materialism and Empirio-criticism in order to be able to make very important corrections; he gives instructions about the type for the paragraph headings. He mentions two letters sent earlier, containing an addition about Erich Becher’s book and a number of corrections to the text. |
| December 30 (January 12, 1909) | In a letter (in French) to the Director of the National Library in Paris, Lenin asks for a ticket giving him the right to use the library. |
| 1908 | Lenin reads Ludwig Feuerbach’s book Sämtliche Werke, Zweiter Band (Collected Works, Vol. 2), Leipzig, 1846, and makes notes in it. Lenin uses this book for Materialism and Empirio-criticism. |
| Not before 1908 | Lenin reads V. Shulyatikov’s book The Justification of Capitalism in West-European Philosophy, from Descartes to E. Mach, and makes notes in it, concluding with an appraisal of the book. |
| Later than 1908 | Lenin reads A. Rey’s book La philosophie moderne (Modern Philosophy), Paris, 1908, and makes notes in it. |
| March 19 (April 1) | Lenin’s article “On to the Straight Road” is published as a leader in Proletary, No. 26. |
| March 26 (April 8) | Lenin’s article “On the ‘Nature’ of the Russian Revolution” is published as a leader in Proletary, No. 27. |
| Not later than April 3 (16) | Lenin finishes his article “Marxism and Revisionism” for the symposium Karl Marx (1818-1883). |
| Between April 6 and 18 (April 19 and May 1) | Lenin at the request of Gorky visits him on the Island of Capri where he tells Bogdanov and Lunacharsky of his difference with them on questions of philosophy. |
| April 16 (29) | Lenin’s articles “On the Beaten Track!” and “A Bloc of the Cadets and the Octobrists?” are published in Proletary, No. 29. |
| April 24 (May 7) | Lenin gives a lecture in Geneva on the subject of “The Assessment of the Russian Revolution and Its Probable Future”. |
| April | Lenin’s article “The Assessment of the Russian Revolution” is published in the Polish journal Przegląd Socjaldemokratyczny, No. 2. |
| May 1 | Lenin delivers a lecture in Paris on the character of the Russian revolution at a meeting organised by the Bureau of the Paris Social-Democratic group. |
| Beginning of May | Lenin takes part in the session of the Bureau of the Paris Social-Democratic group at which it is decided to help the Social-Democrats arrested in Switzerland in connection with the expropriation at Tiflis. |
| May 10 (23) | Proletary, No. 30, publishes Lenin’s articles “Cadets of the Second Generation” (leading article) and “The Assessment of the Russian Revolution” (reprinted from the Polish journal Przegląd Socjaldemokratyczny, No. 2). |
| May | Lenin works at the British Museum on his book Materialism and Empirio-criticism. |
| May-first half of June | Lenin writes “Ten Questions to a Lecturer” as points for the speech of I. F. Dubrovinsky (Innokenty) at the lecture by A. Bogdanov in Geneva. |
| June 18 (July 1) |
Lenin finishes his work The Agrarian Question in Russia Towards the Close of the Nineteenth Century for the Encyclopaedic Dictionary being published by Granat Brothers. Owing to the censorship, the work was not published at the time, and appeared as a separate booklet only in 1918. Lenin writes to V. V. Vorovsky in Odessa on the sharpening of philosophical differences and the maturing of a split with the Bogdanov group. |
| June | On Lenin’s suggestion, a discussion on otzovism is started in Proletary. |
| July 2 (15) | Lenin’s article “Some Features of the Present Collapse” is published as a leading article in Proletary, No. 32. |
| July 5 (18) | Lenin finishes the Autoabstract of his book: The Agrarian Programme of Social-Democracy in the Russian Revolution (printed in the Polish journal Przegląd Socjaldemokratyczny, No. 6, August 1908). |
| July 23 (August 5) | Lenin’s articles “Inflammable Material in World Politics” (leader), “Bellicose Militarism and the Anti-Militarist Tactics of Social-Democracy” and “How Pyotr Maslov Corrects the Rough Drafts of Karl Marx” are published in Proletary, No. 33. |
| August 11-13 (24-26) | Lenin takes part in the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. in Geneva; exposes the attempt of the Mensheviks to liquidate the C.C. and replace it by an information bureau; is elected on behalf of the Bolsheviks to the editorial board of the Party’s Central Organ. |
| August | At a meeting of the editorial board of Proletary Lenin challenges Bogdanov to set forth his views openly in the press. |
| September 11 (24) | Lenin’s article “Leo Tolstoy as the Mirror of the Russian Revolution” is published as a leader in Proletary, No. 35 |
| Between September 25 and October 2 (October 8 and 15) | Lenin’s article “Marxism and Revisionism” is published in the symposium Karl Marx (1818- 1883), put out in St. Petersburg. |
| September 27 (October 10) |
Lenin participates in the work of the conference of socialist journalists in Brussels. Lenin attends the international meeting devoted to the struggle of the proletariat to preserve peace held at the Maison du Peuple in Brussels. |
| September 28 (October 11) | Lenin takes part in the meeting of the International Socialist Bureau in Brussels, criticises Kautsky’s resolution on the admission to the International of the British Labour Party, and opposes the admission of the Zionist socialists to the Russian subsection of the International. |
| September 29 (October 12) | Lenin attends the meeting of the international conference of socialist M. P.s in Brussels. |
| September | Lenin writes the preface to his book Materialism and Empirio-criticism. |
| Before October 3 (16) | Lenin writes his article “British and German Workers Demonstrate for Peace” for Proletary, No. 36. |
| October 3 (16) | Lenin’s article “The Student Movement and the Present Political Situation” is published as a leader in Proletary, No. 36. |
| October 14 (27) | In a letter to A. I. Yelizarova Lenin tells her that he has finished his work on the book Materialism and Empirio-criticism, and asks her to provide a reliable address where he can send the manuscript. |
| October 16 (29) | Lenin’s articles “Events in the Balkans and in Persia”, “Meeting of the International Socialist Bureau” and “P. Maslov in Hysterics” are published in Proletary, No. 37. |
| October 28 (November 10) | Lenin rejects the Mensheviks’ offer to contribute to the proposed Menshevik symposium. |
| October-November | Lenin’s article “Some Remarks on the ‘Reply’ by P. Maslov” is published in the Polish journal Przegląd Socjaldemokratyczny, No. 8-9. |
| October-December | Lenin directs preparations for the Fifth (AllRussian) Conference of the R.S.D.L.P. |
| November 1 (14) | Lenin’s article “The Assessment of the Present Situation” is published in Proletary, No. 38. |
| Before November 4 (17) | Lenin sends the manuscript of his book Materialism and Empirio-criticism to a secret address for legal publication in Moscow. |
| November 13 (26) | Lenin’s articles “How Plekhanov and Co. Defend Revisionism” and “Two Letters” are published in Proletary, No. 39. |
| Between November 29 and December 1 (December 12 and 14) | Lenin and Krupskaya move from Geneva to Paris where Proletary is now to be published. |
| December 1 (14) | Lenin’s article “The Agrarian Debates in the Third Duma” is published in Proletary, No. 40. |
| December 21 (January 3, 1909) | Lenin takes part in the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. in Paris |
| December 21-27 (January 3-9, 1909) | Lenin takes part in the work of the Fifth (AllRussian) Conference of the R.S.D.L.P. in Paris reports on “The Present Moment and the Tasks of the Party”, moves a draft resolution on this question and proposes amendments to draft resolutions on other questions. |
| December 27-29 (January 9-11, 1909) | Lenin takes part in the plenary meeting of the C.C. of the R.S.D.L.P. at which the resolutions of the Fifth (All-Russian) Conference of the R.S.D.L.P. are confirmed. |
| December | Lenin gives a lecture in Paris on the present situation in Russia. |
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