The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte

by Karl Marx

Book Overview

Marx stated that the purpose of this essay was to "demonstrate how the class struggle in France created circumstances and relationships that made it possible for a grotesque mediocrity to play a hero's part." In doing so he applies the method of Historical Materialism and besides it's many other points of interest and importance it can serve readers as a practical instance of this particular method of historical analysis

In this...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0717800563
• ISBN13: 9780717800568
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: International Publishers
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

The Most Accessible of Marx's Work

This fascinating extended essay was originally prepared as a series of newspaper articles. It is Marx's careful analysis of the hijacking of the 1848 revolution in France by Louis Bonaparte, the nephew and self styled successor of the great Napoleon. Many readers are dimly aware of this work because it is the source of two of Marx's most quoted remarks; "history occurs as tragedy and recurs as farce," and "man makes his future, only not as he chooses." Marx discusses why the 18th Brumaire occurred, how it occurred, and why it succeeded. Marx deployed all his considerable intellectual tools to produce this analysis and the quality of writing is much more accessible than much of his more scholarly work, proof that he could write well. What is most impressive is Marx's use of class based social analysis combined with an incisive understanding of the intersections of class interests, ideology, and even personality. Individuals, both on the right and left, who have reduced Marx's thinking to sterile economic determinism have never encountered this brilliant work. A model of what can be done when Marxist concepts are used as a point of departure rather than a form of theology.

Marx's political thought as its best

Many consider this work as Marx's best effort towards political philosophy. While the Communist Manifesto and the Critique os the Gotha Programme are also classics in marxian political thought, this books presents the best and most profound theoretical analysis. Just as the two panphlets above mentioned, this one came up as an "writing of occasion", but more than a pamphlet this is a book, and a classical one. If the Manifesto should be the gateway to marxian political thought, the Brumaire is the book for those who wish to deepen their knowledge on marxian political conceptions. A must for anyone concerned with politics in general.