Karl Korsch - Karl Marx

Published in 1938 and revised in the late 1950s, this work is a systematic analysis of the major themes of Marxist thought, by one of the leading figures of Western Marxism. In chapters that have become indispensable references—such as those devoted to commodity fetishism and historical specification—Karl Korsch establishes a fruitful theoretical debate with the work of Karl Marx, addressing political economy and his conception of history and society, the notion of Marxism as a social science, and the erroneous interpretations of many of its premises. A stimulating overview of the foundations of Marxist theory and practice, this book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion surrounding Marx and a useful tool for understanding our time.

Karl Korsch (1886-1961) is one of the most important Marxist authors of the 20th century, distinguished by the publication of "Karl Marx" and "Marxism and Philosophy" (1923), whose status is compared to that of György Lukács's "History and Class Consciousness." A Doctor of Law from the University of Jena, he developed intense political activity, especially among anarcho-syndicalist movements and within council communism, culminating in his expulsion from the German Communist Party in 1926. He then dedicated himself to lecture series on Marx and the working-class condition, which were attended by Bertolt Brecht, his great friend until the end of his life. In 1933, after the Reichstag fire, he fled Germany and settled in England, Denmark, and finally the USA, where he worked at the Institute for Social Research in New York. A dissenting voice, he bequeathed to us extensive reflections on Marxism and a body of work governed by the fight against dogmatism and alienation.