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Karl Marx: An Illustrated Biography

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From the opening lines, to the powerful conclusion, Blumenburg paints Marx in a light realistic and human light. He stresses that one gains a greater respect for a man's ideas through understanding the man himself. If you are looking for an explanation of Marxism or even some clarification, look elsewhere. But if you seek a portrait of one of the greatest political and socioeconomic thinkers in the last few hundred years, I would highly recommend this book.

I've rarely read a historian that can be both poignant and convincing as a writer, but I must say that Blumenburg writes quite well, and the accompanying photos inserted in the text break up the monotony typically associated with a biography (the book is said to contain "nearly every photo of Marx"). As a reader, one experiences the conflicts Marx had with his father and contemporaries, the excitement of his education and the formation of his ideals, and the utter hopelessness of his economic situation.

The book has been praised for its wide collection of sources and pictures, and on these two points, I would whole-heartedly agree. Actual photocopies of letters from his father, pages of his notebooks, and covers to his works accent the text surrounding these events and a wide range of personal pictures graphically illustrate convincing passages. The most powerful, perhaps, was the final photo of his massive grave site and the tombstone that reads: "Workers of all land, Unite!"

Reading the book fueled my interest in his philosophies, and I'll admit, the book is written for an audience fairly familiar with Marxism itself. Having little working knowledge of Marxism, I'm sure that I was able to fully grasp the workings of Marx's life as well as someone who is learned in this area, but I fully intend to further my reading on this subject. My advice: learn about the philosophy and the man. You will be astounded even more at the individual behind the idea!

The book closes with a detailed chronology, opinions of Marx's work from several prominent figures (i.e. Max Weber, Sigmund Freud, etc.) and a thorough bibliography. Whether it be used as a resource, entertainment, or an in-depth study, "Karl Marx: An Illustrated History" works well. An enjoyable read on all fronts.

Werner Blumenberg's "Karl Marx: An Illustrated History" tells the story of the man behind some of the most radical social and political theories in contemporary history. Typically negatively associated only with Communism, this book offers insight into the reasons for Marx's beliefs through various letters, memoirs and photographs. We meet his family and contemporaries and many of the influencing aspects of his life. Though fairly dry at some points, Blumenberg presents Karl Marx as a scholar, a writer, a husband, a son, a polititian, a philosopher, and most importantly, a man, in "Karl Marx: An Illustrated History".

Doesn't matter what ideology you like, follow or accept. Marx is a genius on sociology that made some of the most important works in this matter. This book is a good one but is not the great biography that I was expecting. I didn't see any need for the illustrations too... but is very nice written