The History of Marxism is the first full and exhaustive attempt to root the development of Marxist thought in political struggle and to relate it to the history and growth of the working class movement. Accepting Marxism as both a method for interpreting the world and a method for changing it, the history extends to the major thinkers of Marxism and its revisionists, the movements that owe, or claim to owe their inspiration to Marxism, the revolutions to which Marxits have been a party, and the attempts that have been made to construct a socialist society. Eric J. Hobsbawm was born in 1917 and politicised at secondary school in Berlin 1931-33. Has taught History at Birkbeck College, London, for good many years. Has written extensively on history, with special emphasis on social movements, politics, Marxism, and, at one time on jazz.