Capital: Critique of Political Economy, Vol. 1
Discover Karl Marx's critical analysis of capitalism in 'Capital: Critique of Political Economy, Vol. 1'. This new translation offers fresh insights into the global economic system.
Why You’ll Love It
- Gain a deeper understanding of capitalism's impact on society
- Explore Marx's original insights with extensive commentary
- Learn about the complexities of value production and trade
- Discover the relevance of Marx's work in the 21st century
FAQ
Is this translation based on Marx's own revisions?
Yes, it is based on the last German edition revised by Marx himself.
What makes this edition unique?
It includes original commentary and annotations by renowned scholars.
Why should I read 'Capital'?
To gain valuable perspectives on our current economic system and its historical roots.
The first new English translation in fifty years—and the only one based on the last German edition revised by Marx himself
Featuring extensive original commentary, including a foreword by acclaimed political theorist Wendy Brown
“An astounding achievement.” China Miéville, author of October: The Story of the Russian Revolution
Karl Marx (1818–1883) was living in exile in England when he embarked on an ambitious, multivolume critique of the capitalist system of production. Though only the first volume saw publication in Marx’s lifetime, it would become one of the most consequential books in history. This magnificent new edition of Capital is a translation of Marx for the twenty-first century. It is the first translation into English to be based on the last German edition revised by Marx himself, the only version that can be called authoritative, and it features extensive commentary and annotations by Paul North and Paul Reitter that draw on the latest scholarship and provide invaluable perspective on the book and its complicated legacy. At once precise and boldly readable, this translation captures the momentous scale and sweep of Marx’s thought while recovering the elegance and humor of the original source.
For Marx, our global economic system is relentlessly driven by “value”—to produce it, capture it, trade it, and, most of all, to increase it. Lifespans are shortened under the demand for ever-greater value. Days are lengthened, work is intensified, and the division of labor deepens until it leaves two classes, owners and workers, in constant struggle for life and livelihood. In Capital, Marx reveals how value came to tyrannize our world, and how the history of capital is a chronicle of bloodshed, colonization, and enslavement.
With a foreword by Wendy Brown and an afterword by William Clare Roberts, this is a critical edition of Capital for our time, one that faithfully preserves the vitality and directness of Marx’s German prose and renders his ideas newly relevant to modern readers.
Edited and translated by Paul Reitter
Edited by Paul North
Foreword by Wendy Brown
Afterword by William Clare Roberts