Marx Book Review

ELEANOR MARX

I stayed up until after 2:00 AM this morning finishing Rachel Holmes' well-documented biography of Eleanor Marx, daughter of Karl Marx. I couldn't go to sleep once I got into the dirty dealings of the nefarious Edward Aveling. The last two chapters lay the groundwork for another book that addresses the dichotomy of Eleanor's way of life versus her way of death.

Here's my take on the book:

It provides a sweeping picture of socialist movements of latter 19th Century England, touching on France and Germany. This is a character study of Eleanor Marx only in so much as it relates to her career. She was an indefatigable person of enviable intellect in promoting her father's principles. Her life was given to travel, organizing labor, writing and promoting the rights of workers.

In advocating an eight-hour day, age limits for employing children, and more humane treatment of women, she met a swell of opposition and wasn't one to falter. With youthful boldness she faced ridicule and rejection from colleagues and powerful businessmen.

For many years she lived hand to mouth, moved from one shabby place to another, and persisted with enthusiasm to promote a socialist agenda. This won her many friends and admirers, especially among people working in sweat shops.

Holmes has given Eleanor the character of a person who faced obstacles with determination, energy, and sagacity. That she was the unlikeliest of persons to commit suicide is not the focus of this book. Eleanor's devotion was first and foremost to her father's social philosophy. That she gave up this cause and took her life when faced with her lover's betrayal is covered in one short chapter at the end of the book. Worse yet, the lover-cum-conman who betrayed her inherited her estate.

The book's concluding scenario is reason enough for another biography. This is not meant as a criticism of Holmes' book, which is a fine introduction to the socialist scene at the time Eleanor Marx lived.