Karl Marx: Greatness and Illusion - Softcover

'A deeply original and illuminating account of Marx's journey through the intellectual history of the nineteenth century. Stedman Jones explores the friendships, affinities, rivalries and hatreds that shaped Marx's life with elegance and analytical brilliance. He anchors his narrative in a startlingly textured account of the society and politics of Marx's era.

Most important of all, he brings to life the thoughts of a plethora of other writers, showing how Marx's engagements with the thoughts of others enabled him to navigate a course that often had little or nothing to do with the Marxism of the twentieth century. A profound reappraisal and a gripping read.'

'A deeply original and illuminating account of Marx's journey through the intellectual history of the nineteenth century ... a profound reappraisal and a gripping read' Christopher Clark, author of The Sleepwalkers

'The definitive biography of Marx for our time' Peter E. Gordon, The New York Times

'Superb, absorbing ... Stedman Jones's book is a treat ... required reading for anyone interested in understanding the difference between what Marx intended and what has been perpetrated in his name' Rachel Holmes, Daily Telegraph

'Rich and deeply researched' John Gray, Literary Review

'Gareth Stedman Jones's engrossing book takes us back to who Marx really was ... whether you are a Marxist or not, there's no denying that his thought is a fundamental tool for the understanding of history' Michael Wood, BBC History Magazine