Manifesto
Three Classic Essays on How to Change the World
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The three texts this book, all written in vastly different eras —The Communist Manifesto (1848) by Marx and Engels, Reform or Revolution (1899) by Rosa Luxemburg and Socialism and Man in Cuba (1965) by Ernesto Che Guevara—illuminate socialist ideas of the 19th and 20th centuries.
For a new generation of activists, these are classic revolutionary writings by four famous rebels, including The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels; Reform or Revolution by Rosa Luxemburg; and Che Guevara’s Socialism and Man in Cuba. Includes an introduction by Cuban Marxist intellectual Armando Hart and a preface by US radical poet Adrienne Rich.
The essays in this book, Manifesto, were written by three relatively young people—Karl Marx when he was 30, Rosa Luxemburg at 27, Che Guevara at the age of 37. Born into different historical moments and different generations, they shared an energy of hope, an engagement with history, a belief that critical thinking must inform action, and a passion for the world and its human possibilities. Here are urgent conversations from the past that are still being carried on, among new voices, throughout the world.
Rosa Luxemburg
Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) was a Polish-born Jewish revolutionary and one of the greatest theoretical minds of the European socialist movement. An activist in Germany and Poland, the author of numerous classic works, she participated in the founding of the German Communist Party and the Spartacist insurrection in Berlin in 1919. She was assassinated in January of that year and has become a hero of socialist, communist and feminist movements around the world.
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Karl Marx
Karl Marx (1818–1883) was a German philosopher, economist, and political theorist who profoundly influenced the course of history with his revolutionary ideas. Born in Trier, Prussia, Marx, in collaboration with Friedrich Engels, authored The Communist Manifesto and later produced his seminal work, Das Kapital. A visionary thinker, Marx's theories laid the foundation for modern communism and offered a critical analysis of capitalism, highlighting issues of class struggle, economic inequality, and the role of the state. Despite controversy and varied interpretations, Marx's impact on social, political, and economic thought has been enduring, shaping the discourse on societal structures and inspiring movements for social change around the world.
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Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) was a German philosopher and co-author of The Communist Manifesto alongside Karl Marx. Born in Barmen, Prussia, Engels played a crucial role in shaping Marxist theory. His works, including The Condition of the Working Class in England, explored class struggles and historical materialism. As a committed socialist, Engels contributed significantly to the foundations of modern communist thought, leaving a lasting impact on political philosophy and social theory.
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