Contents

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Introduction, 1971

I

1. Michelet Discovers Vico

2. Michelet and the Middle Ages

3. Michelet and the Revolution

4. Michelet Tries to Live His History

5. Michelet Between Nationalism and Socialism

6. Decline of the Revolutionary Tradition: Renan

7. Decline of the Revolutionary Tradition: Taine

8. Decline of the Revolutionary Tradition: Anatole France

II

1. Origins of Socialism: Babeufs Defense

2. Origins of Socialism: Saint-Simon’s Hierarchy

3. Origins of Socialism: The Communities of Fourier and Owen

4. Origins of Socialism: Enfantin and the American Socialists

5. Karl Marx: Prometheus and Lucifer

6. Karl Marx Decides to Change the World

7. Friedrich Engels: The Young Man from Manchester

8. The Partnership of Marx and Engels

9. Marx and Engels: Grinding the Lens

10. Marx and Engels Take a Hand at Making History

11. The Myth of the Dialectic

12. Marx and Engels Go Back to Writing History

13. Historical Actors: Lassalle

14. Historical Actors: Bakúnin

15. Karl Marx: Poet of Commodities and Dictator of the Proletariat

16. Karl Marx Dies at His Desk

III

1. Lenin: The Brothers Ulyánov

2. Lenin: The Great Headmaster

3. Trotsky: The Young Eagle

4. Trotsky Identifies History with Himself

5. Lenin Identifies Himself with History

6. Lenin at the Finland Station

Appendices

Also by Edmund Wilson

Index

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