Main Currents of Marxism: Its Origin, Growth, and Dissolution Volume I: The Founders; Volume II: The Golden Age; Volume III: The Breakdown

Kolakowski, Leszek; translated by P. S. Falla

ISBN 10: 0198245475 / ISBN 13: 9780198245476

Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1978

About this Item

Monumental study of the origins, development, implementation, and decline of the various strands of Marxism, and its interpreters. Complete set of this study, widely considered the author's magnum opus; his intent was to include principle historic facts likely to be of use to any scholar, while keeping his own interpretations in separate sections. Kolakowski was an important Polish philosopher & intellectual historian, credited as an inspiration for Solidarity and the modern Polish mindset. In 1968, after his critiques of Marxism became intolerable, he left Poland, where he had been chair of the History of Philosophy at Warsaw University, eventually settling at Oxford.Hardcovers in jacket, as pictured. Light wear to books; ink name rubberstamped on bottom page edge of first two volumes, volume three shows a bit more wear, bumped corners, page edges lightly spotted/stained; jackets show light edgewear, minor creasing, volume one price-clipped, volume three shows a little fading. Texts clean; [xiv], 434; [ix], blank, 542; xii, 548; index & bibliographies in each volume. ISBNs of volumes 2 & 3 are 0198245696 & 019824570x. A surcharge for expedited or international shipping of this heavy set may be required; please inquire for an accurate quote. Size: Octavo.

Seller Inventory # z0306

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Main Currents of Marxism: Its Origin, Growth, and Dissolution Volume I: The Founders; Volume II: The Golden Age; Volume III: The Breakdown
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Oxford
• Publication Date: 1978
• ISBN 10: 0198245475
• ISBN 13: 9780198245476
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Edition: First Edition in English.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Book Type: Set
• Seller catalogs:
  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Philosophy

About this title

Synopsis

The commanding study of Marxism, now in one masterful volume with a new preface and epilogue by the author.

From philosopher Leszek Kolakowski, one of the giants of twentieth-century intellectual history, comes this highly influential study of Marxism. Written in exile, this "prophetic work" presents, according to the Library of Congress, "the most lucid and comprehensive history of the origins, structure, and posthumous development of the system of thought that had the greatest impact on the twentieth century." Kolakowski traces the intellectual foundations of Marxist thought from Plotonius through Lenin, Lukacs, Sartre, and Mao. He reveals Marxism to be "the greatest fantasy of our century...an idea that began in Promethean humanism and culminated in the monstrous tyranny of Stalinism." In a brilliant coda, he examines the collapse of international Communism in light of the last tumultuous decades. Main Currents of Marxism remains the indispensable book in its field.

About the Author

The Polish-born Leszek Kolakowski was the first recipient of the million-dollar John W. Kluge Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Human Sciences. He lives in Oxford.