Engels after Marx /

The essays in this volume represent a critical reappraisal of the work of Friedrich Engels in light of the recent collapse of communism in Europe. This is especially important because Engels is often associated with the orthodox form of Marxism that has been most discredited. Some of the issues raised concern the relationship of Engels to Karl Marx, e.g., was he simply a "second fiddle" to Marx? did he positively or negatively affect Marx's reception after the latter's death? what questions arise from their joint authorship? Other issues concern the value of Engels's works in their own right. Was Engels nothing more than a simplifier of Marx, or can he be rewardingly studied by himself? How can he be understood in the context of socialist politics? Does he continue to have a significant role in discussions of subjects such as modernity, nationalism, and feminism? The contributors' judgments on the value of Engels's work range from Paul Thomas's very negative assessment to the more positive analyses of Joseph Margolis and Douglas Kellner. Despite this variance, one comes away with the conviction that Engels was clearly Marx's junior partner. Graduate, faculty. C. T. Loader; University of Nevada, Las Vegas