Despite the majority of people's leanings being more towards socialism than conservatism, it is not surprising that the blue rosettes are so often successful over those of a redder hue. It almost seems that if two socialists are put into the same room, they will fight to the death over the heinous wrongs of one or the other: one believes that an election should be held upon Monday, whilst the other is convinced that Tuesday would be a more auspicious date. Tories, on the other hand, will paper over minor cracks, such as one of their number having senselessly slaughtered the entire family of another; just as long as they get elected.

Tristam Hunt seems to have written this tome for no other reason than to blame Marx and Engels for the Russian Revolution, the Great War and quite possibly England's failure to win more than one Football World Cup in the 21st century.

I read 370 pages and, I really can't say that I am any the wiser as to the personality of Friedrich Engels. The book follows a convoluted chronology and makes no attempt to explain the sometimes odd behaviour of Engels. Mr Hunt plays one communist off against another to show that the British Labour Party's weak version of socialism is the only true variety.

I don't recommend that you waste your time with this book. ( )

An interesting biography of a man of huge social and historical significance. As the title suggests, Hunt makes full play of the contradictions inherent in the Manchester mill owner as father of socialism - and he clearly enjoys the sensual appetites and enjoyments of Engels, together with his fierce and all-consuming faith in his friend and collaborator Karl Marx. It appears that we are getting nearer to a time where we can look at the achievements of Marx and Engels, and their theories, in a way that is not completely overshadowed by their misapplication - we need not necessarily only see socialism through the prism of the gulag. This book will help with this reappraisal - and is very readable even to the political and philosophical novice

A great book, easy to read if you are interested in history. It helps understand how different the "existing communism" is from the one Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx describe in their books and newspaper articles . A biography of Engels life in the historic background. The conflicts with his family and the mill business where he was born and raised. And the struggle with and about the not really unite labor movement in a time where everything seemed possible in Europe. ( )

A very interesting book that deals with Friedrich Engels mainly , but has lots of information on the industrial revolution in Manchester and also the huge social changes in Germany in the 19th century. It is still very relevant today as revolution spreads across North Africa and trade union members in Wisconsin fight for their collective bargaining rights. ( )