New York Review Books classics.

Includes index

Introduction. Michelet discovers Vico -- Michelet and the Middle Ages -- Michelet and the revolution -- Michelet tries to live his history -- Michelet between nationalism and socialism -- Decline of the revolutionary tradition : Renan -- Decline of the revolutionary tradition : Taine -- Decline of the revolutionary tradition : Anatole France -- Origins of socialism : Babeuf's defense -- Origins of socialism : Saint-Simon's hierarchy -- Origins of socialism : the communities of Fourier and Owen -- Origins of socialism : Enfantin and the American socialists -- Karl Marx : Prometheus and Lucifer -- Karl Marx decides to change the world -- Friedrich Engels : the young man from Manchester -- The partnership of Marx and Engels -- Marx and Engels : grinding the lens -- Marx and Engels take a hand at making history -- The myth of the dialectic -- Marx and Engels go back to writing history -- Historical actors : Lassalle -- Historical actors : Baknin -- Karl Marx : poet of commodities and dictator of the proletariat -- Karl Marx dies at his desk -- Lenin : the brothers Ulynov -- Lenin : the great headmaster -- Trotsky : the young eagle -- Trotsky identifies history with himself with Lenin -- Lenin identifies himself with history -- Lenin at the Finland station