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The Frock-Coated Communist: The Revolutionary Life of Friedrich Engels Hardcover – 30 Apr 2009

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Tristram Hunt (Author)
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Tristram Hunt (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 17 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Allen Lane; 1st Edition edition (30 April 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0713998520
  • ISBN-13: 978-0713998528
  • Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 4.2 x 24 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 554,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

Beautifully written and consistently engaging (Independent)

An excellent book ... Hunt has a mastery of 19th-century British culture and European political thought (Robert Service Sunday Times)

Thoughtful and engaging (Telegraph Review) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Dr Tristram Hunt is one of Britain's best known young historians. Educated at Cambridge and Chicago Universities, he is lecturer in British history at Queen Mary, University of London and author of 'Building Jerusalem: The Rise and Fall of the Victorian City.' A leading historical broadcaster, he has authored numerous series for BBC Radio and Television and Channel 4. A regular contributor to The Times, The Guardian and The Observer, he is a Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Customer Reviews

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsEngels: Communist, Revolutionary, Factory Manager, "General", Huntsman, Writer, Feminist and All Round Sound Bloke
By S Wood on 25 July 2009
Format: Hardcover
This is a fine, readable biography of Friedrich Engels in a similar vein to Francis Wheens Karl Marx but not such a virtuso performance. It more than competently covers Engels rich and varied life, anchoring it in the context of his times, as he journeys from his birth place in Germany to exile in London with more than a few points in between. The tone of the book is generally sound, and not infrequently quite funny - as is Engels. . . and Marx for that matter. There is an element of finger wagging on Hunts part about some of Engels real or alleged misdemeanours, but I rather think M.A. Krul in his above (or below?) review is being rather too sensitive in regarding this as "hostility" towards Engels on Tristram Hunts part.

The philosophical roots and theory of Marxism are clearly explained for those of us, like myself, who are a little light on the nitty gritty of Marxist theory. Developments in Engels wide intellectual interests are giving room as well as his copious writings on issues as diverse as Communism, Science, Feminism, Family and Warfare. His relationship with Marx recieves ample coverage and it is evident from this, and other books Ive read, that they got on like a house on fire: writing to each another daily and when they were both in London they visited each other daily aswell (and this despite Marxs perpetual cadging!). When Marx died Engels looked after his intellectual, aswell as his biological, offspring.

I was sorry that the book had to end which is always a good sign, and while there are a few quibbling problems with the book (which could have done with being polished up a little) I wouldnt hesitate to reccommend it to anyone whether or not they are ideologically committed, or even sympathetic, to Socialism.
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2.0 out of 5 starsan attempt at biography
By S P Mead TOP 500 REVIEWER on 2 April 2016
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
“The Frock-Coated Communist” is a biography on the life of Friedrich Engels by Tristram Hunt (and has previously been published under the title of “Marx's General”).

As someone highly fascinated with Marxism, I've read a great deal both on and by Engels. It's unfortunate that, as one of the two founders of Marxism, Engels tends to often be neglected by social scientists and historians (although, to be fair, it was Karl Marx who developed the greater part of their "joint" work). Given my interest, I welcome any book about Engels.

Yet this is a rather poor book. I was looking forward to reading it, but quickly realised that the author was quite out of his depth. He simply doesn't possess the wherewithal to produce a 'biographical' account on the life and times of Engels. I did try my best to complete this book, but after getting about half-way through I simply found it to be too much of a shoddy text (so I merely flicked through the latter half, finding it a chore).

To demonstrate, the book explores in some detail lots of meaningless information about a run-down city in the former Soviet Union called 'Engels'. The author visited this place, for inspiration it seems ... But why is this city of any relevance? It has nothing to do with the life of Engels! Yet this sort of nonsense - that is, irrelevant ideas and topics - is to be found throughout the book.

It's as if the author decided that, rather than actually write a proper biography on Engels, he'd try and add sparkle and razzmatazz by discussing things that - in some indirect way - might, slightly, relate to Engels. In so doing, he's created something original - as no-one else has written about such things when discussing Engels. But originality does not equate to relevant content.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsInformative biography of Engels marred by editorial line
By M. A. Krul on 11 May 2009
Format: Hardcover
Tristram Hunt's biography of the great man nicknamed 'The General', the Communist hero Friedrich Engels, is timely in light of the slow revival of Marxism as a consequence of the failure of neoliberalism and the current financial crisis. That is not to say that this is the first English-language biography; besides the old standard biography by Gustav Mayer (Friedrich Engels) there is the excellent short(er) biography by J.D. Hunley (Friedrich Engels: A Reinterpretation of His Life and Thought), in addition to several others.

Hunt's book is of the more contemporary biographies however the most informative one. His command of sources is excellent, and he uses not just the by now familiar memoirs and the manuscripts from that time, but also makes great use of third party sources that are not directly about Engels but which shed a greater light on certain circumstances he lived in or people he knew. Hunt is also very good on providing a general historical background; in particular his descriptions of the shades of German romanticism and their influence as well as the Manchester environment of Engels as factory manager are very well done. These are not likely to be surpassed in English soon. Overall, Hunt's work is fairly balanced with regard to the different aspects and periods of Engels' life, with the interesting observation that unlike almost all prior biographers, he focuses in particular on Engels' private life and activities as industrialist, rather than on the political activities and theory.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

A good read

Published 17 months ago by M O Dowling
5.0 out of 5 starsSecond fiddle perhaps, but an essential player

This is an attractive biography of Friedrich Engels. If his life is less well known than that of Marx, Engels would not complain - over and over, from his first meeting with Marx... Read more

Published on 4 Aug. 2012 by Ralph Blumenau
5.0 out of 5 starsWritten with Feeling

Not very often do I read a book that I am reticent to put down. This is such a book. Hunt writes with clarity clearly drawn from in depth research that is a joy to examine. Read more

Published on 22 July 2011 by G. Edwards
5.0 out of 5 starsA secret Life

This biography of Engels doesn't have the panache of a writer such as Francis Wheen (biographer of Marx). Read more

Published on 26 Jun. 2011 by DN PERKS
4.0 out of 5 starsAn Excellent Book Written with Great Clarity and Wit

This is a very well written, entertaining and straightforward book about Engels; his domestic life, his relationship with Marx and the philosophical basis of their works. Read more

Published on 14 Sept. 2010 by Dr. R. Brandon
4.0 out of 5 starsThe Frock Coated Communist

A highly readable book which is the autobiography of the champagne socialist who subsidised Karl Marx. Read more

Published on 30 May 2010 by B. Griffiths
5.0 out of 5 starsgreat book - very interesting

This is a very well written and researched book - cannot recommend it highly enough. Buy it for yourself or as a present - you won't be disappointed!

Published on 6 Jan. 2010 by A. Zogolovitch
4.0 out of 5 starsToo much communism, not quite enough frockcoat

A well reseached, accessibly written biography of Marx's cofidante and collaborator, which combines social and socialist history with personal biography. Read more

Published on 10 Oct. 2009 by Dr Burgess
3.0 out of 5 starstoo many snide remarks

Young historian obviously going places,TV broadcaster, regular articles in the Guardian and Murdoch's The Times has produced a well researched and sometimes amusing biography of... Read more

Published on 27 Sept. 2009 by Craddock Edwards from Bristol
4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent for the general reader

An excellent introduction to Engels, Marx, their philosophies and their immediate historical context for those who might feel a little intimidated by a detailed examination of the... Read more

Published on 2 July 2009 by G. L. Haggett

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