Originally published in 1891, this collection of socialist essays by Paul Lafargue argues against the capitalist notion of work as a moral duty and advocates for the right to leisure time and creative pursuits. The centerpiece of the book is the title essay, which draws on the author's experience as a factory worker to critique the dehumanizing effects of labor under capitalism. This provocative and still-relevant work is introduced by Charles H. Kerr, a prominent American anarchist publisher.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.