THE POLITICAL IDEAS OF MARX AND ENGELS. Vol. MARXISM AND TOTALITARIAN DEMOCRACY, 1818-1850.

This gracefully written, massively researched, and generally magnificent work is heralded by its author as the first of two volumes devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the political thought of Marx and Engels. Since the exposition of this volume frequently culminates in promissory notes for redemption in the next, final assessments of Hunt's conclusions will have to wait until the whole work is at hand. Nevertheless, this first part of the effort, concentrating on the political theories and practice of Marx and Engels through 1850, makes it abundantly clear that, as a consequence of Hunt's labors, conventional analyses of Marxian political theory will be radically transformed.