Is the Grand Old Man re-emerging? More than twenty years after the collapse of Communism, and in the midst of the crisis of Capitalism, Karl Marxs ideas, at least in part, are back in vogue. He is often invoked, yet often misunderstood. In this award-winning biography Rolf Hosfeld offers a new, transparent, and critical view of Marxs turbulent life. Linking the contradictory politician and revolutionary to his workhis errors and misjudgments as well as his pioneering ideasHosfeld presents a vivid account of Marxs life between Trier and London. At the same time, he renders accessible Marxs complex work, one of the worlds most important contributions to the history of ideas.

Rolf Hosfeld studied German Literature, History, Political Science, and Philosophy at the Universities of Frankfurt/Main and Berlin, where he received his PhD with a dissertation on Heinrich Heine. He has worked as university lecturer, editor, journalist, and lm and TV director and has published numerous essays, scholarly articles, and books on historical, cultural, and political topics, including a biography of Hegel, a history of the Armenian genocide, a history of the GDR, and a biography of Kurt Tucholsky. Currently, he is the Academic Director of the Potsdam Lepsius House, a Research Center for Genocide Studies, and works as an independent writer.

SECTION I: IDEAS

SECTION II: DEEDS

SECTION III: DISCOVERIES

SECTION IV: CONSEQUENCES

Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Notes
Index of Names