Marx and Engels' 'Communist Manifesto' - (Reader's Guides) Annotated by Peter Lamb (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Introducing the most famous work of the nineteenth-century radical thinkers Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, this comprehensive reader's guide to the Communist Manifesto explores the key themes, ideas and issues of the revolutionary pamphlet.

Beginning with a discussion of the intellectual, political and social context of the Manifesto, the Reader's Guide illustrates the themes by clearly relating points in the work to ideas and theories made in other texts written by Marx and Engels. This is followed by a closer examination and analysis of the text that covers the introductory statement and each of the chapters in detail and discusses its style, structure and intended audiences. This guide also explores the ways in which the Manifesto was received both during the lives of Marx and Engels and in the twentieth century, for example the Soviet Union's version of Marxism, China's re-interpretations of the ideas, and the innovative political philosophy found in Western analytical Marxism.

As well as presenting relevant biographical points about Marx and Engels and giving concise information on prominent people mentioned in the text, this valuable study resource features discussion questions and annotated guides to further reading. For students studying political philosophy and political theories, Marx and Engels' Communist Manifesto: A Reader's Guide provides a better understanding of the ideas, theories and contexts discussed in the most famous work of the writers who founded the ideology of Marxism.

Review Quotes

A superb companion to one of history's few genuinely transformative texts. Lamb takes us from the appearance of the Manifesto in the mid-nineteenth century through to its on-going impact in the age of globalization, and combines this with a sharp analysis of the themes and tropes that made Marx and Engels into household names. This Reader's Guide will be of interest not only to students, but also to anyone who wants to better understand the Manifesto's long and lasting impact.
Imre Szeman, Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies and Professor of English, Film Studies and Sociology University of Alberta, Canada

At last a full-length commentary on the Manifesto. Peter Lamb guides readers through the text, giving expert comments on points of English translation and contextual background. He updates the work's reception to include critical theory, Hardt and Negri, as well as Zizek. This is a timely work, improving on currently available introductions.
Terrell Carver, Professor of Political Theory, University of Bristol, UK

The Communist Manifesto is - alongside Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil and Darwin's The Origin of the Species- among the two or three texts essential to a basic understanding of the intellectual history of the 19th century in Europe. Proceeding alongside the text in a patiently expository fashion, but with a continual eye to other writings by Marx which clarify key passages, Peter Lamb's guide is an excellent place to start for readers with no prior knowledge of the Manifesto or the context in which it was written.
Andrew Pendakis, Assistant Professor of Theory and Rhetoric, Brock University, Canada

About the Author

Peter Lamb is a Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at Staffordshire University, UK.