Engels: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

129 Pages·2003·1.74 MB·English

by  Terrell Carver

Terrell Carver is Professor of Political Terrell Carver e This lucid book explores the importance of
Theory at the University of Bristol. He is engels n Friedrich Engels’s thought and work. It
g
author of Marx’s Social Theory (1982), e would not be an overstatement to say that
l
Marx and Engels: The Intellectual A Very Short Introduction s Engels invented Marxism, or that his work

Relationship (1983), Friedrich Engels: His A did more than Marx’s to convert people to
Life and Thought (1989), and The V the most influential political movement of
‘combines a lucid introduction to the thinker with a genuine e
Postmodern Marx (1998). He is also r modern times. He was the first Marxist
introduction to scholarly discussion’ British Book News y
editor of The Cambridge Companion to S historian, anthropologist, and philosopher,
Marx (1991), and co-editor of Rational h as well as the first commentator on early
o
Choice Marxism (1995) and Engels after rt Marx. Terrell Carver traces his effect on the

Marx (1999). In development of Marxist theory and practice,
t
ro and discusses the difficulties which Marxists
d
u have encountered in defending Engels’s
c materialism and dialectics.
t
io Terrell Carver
n
engels
A Very Short Introduction
VERYSHORTINTRODUCTIONS
stimulating ways in to new subjects
C
a
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ve ‘a thoroughly good idea. Snappy, small-
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format . . . stylish design . . . perfect to
ISBN 0-19-280466-9 pop into your pocket for spare moments’
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Lisa Jardine, The Times
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‘A very good idea, these Very Short
www.oup.com 9 780192 804662 2 Introductions, a new concept from OUP’
cover painting: Philip Atkins www.oup.co.uk/vsi £6.99 RRP $9.95 USA Nicholas Lezard, Guardian
JN106175 ENGELS VSI OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS CMYK 11/4/03
Engels: A Very Short Introduction
Very Short Introductions are for anyone wanting a stimulating
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Terrell Carver
ENGELS
A Very Short Introduction
1
3
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First published 1981 simultaneously in hardback and paperback
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ISBN 0–19–280466–9
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Preface
While there are many books on Marx and Marxism there are few
books on Engels, and even fewer that take him seriously as a
thinker. In this one I have attempted a close study of Engels’s ideas.
To a large extent I have allowed him to speak for himself, since his
own words are suitably vivid. It has been my object to interest the
reader in Engels’s thought and its implications for contemporary
social science and politics.
I am grateful to the University of Liverpool for granting me study
leave to begin this book, and I am indebted to those who supported
my application, as well as to my students there. I should like to
thank Catherine Payne and Mary Woods for their careful and
critical attention to my typescript, and Larry Wilde, Henry Hardy,
Keith Thomas and an anonymous adviser for their very helpful
suggestions.
I should like to dedicate this book to David McLellan.
Bristol TERRELL CARVER
September 1980

Contents
List of illustrations xi
Abbreviations xiii
1
Engels and Marx 1
2
Journalist 3
3
Communist 12
4
Revolutionary 25
5
Marxist 38
6
Scientist 55
7
Engels and Marxism 74
Further reading 95
Index 99