Peter Kropotkin, how many languages did you speak?
I am fluent or competent in five languages, and I have reading knowledge in a few more.
Russian is my native language; all my early writings and letters to family were in Russian.
I am fluent in French. I lived many years in France, I wrote The Conquest of Bread in French, and I corresponded with French anarchists and scientists easily.
I am fluent in English. I lived in England for nearly 30 years, l lectured in English frequently, I wrote Mutual Aid, and Fields, Factories and Workshops, and many scientific papers in English.
I am competent in German. I corresponded with German geographers and read German scientific journals extensively. My German was good enough for scientific debate and travel.
I am competent in Italian. I lived for periods in Italy, travelled frequently through the Alps with Italian climbers, and I communicated easily with Italian anarchists and scientists.
I read Spanish anarchist newspapers and tracked developments in Barcelona and Andalusia.
Scandinavian languages (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish). I read geographic works from Scandinavia and corresponded with Norwegian and Swedish geographers. I have reading competence in these languages.
Finnish and Polish. Due to my Siberian expeditions, I sometimes worked with in these languages, but only on a basic reading level with assistance.