Marx's Das Kapital - (Books That Changed the World) by Francis Wheen (Paperback)

About the Book

In vivid detail, Wheens captivating, accessible book shows that, far from being a dry economic treatise, "Das Kapital" is like a vast Gothic novel whose heroes are enslaved by the monster they created: capitalism.

Book Synopsis

In vivid detail, Francis Wheen tells the story of Das Kapital and Karl Marx's twenty-year struggle to complete his unfinished masterpiece. Born in a two-room flat in London's Soho amid political squabbles and personal tragedy, the first volume of Das Kapital was published in 1867, to muted praise. But after Marx's death, the book went on to influence thinkers, writers, and revolutionaries, from George Bernard Shaw to V. I. Lenin, changing the direction of twentieth-century history. Wheen's captivating, accessible book shows that, far from being a dry economic treatise, Das Kapital is like a vast Gothic novel whose heroes are enslaved by the monster they created: capitalism. Furthermore, Wheen argues, as long as capitalism endures, Das Kapital demands to be read and understood.

Review Quotes

"[An] exhilarating read, and a healthy corrective to those brought up to think of Marx's work as rigid and doctrinaire."

"[Wheen] brilliantly evokes the atmosphere of Victorian Gothic that pervades the pages of Das Kapital."

"As gripping and as readable as a first-rate thriller."

"Wheen...presents this splendid reevaluation with great wit and verve."