Synopsis
&“Gandy has attempted a much-needed reinterpretation of Marx&’s theory of history—one that, everything considered, deserves the reader&’s attention.&” —American Political Science Review In this book Karl Marx&’s observations on history, which are found scattered throughout his voluminous writings, are brought together and subjected to searching analysis—in refreshingly direct language, without jargon. For the first time we have a thoughtful assessment of Marx&’s views on all the epochs that cross his historical vision. D. Ross Gandy treats Marx&’s ideas on primitive societies, on ancient Roman and Asiatic civilization, on the structure of feudalism, on strategies for overthrowing capitalism, and on the hypothetical communist future. Among the author&’s departures from traditional readings of Marx are his interpretations of class struggle, his conception of social strata, and his cogent analysis of the &“new Marxism.&” Since many aspects of Marxist historical theory have been neglected or distorted, Gandy&’s remarkably clear commentary, based on extensive research—including an exhaustive study of the forty-volume Marx-Engels Werke—will doubtless stimulate debate among sociologists and other students of social change, political scientists, and historians.
