Karl Marx

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Karl Marx : biography

05 May 1818 – 14 March 1883

For long hours Karl Marx read books in libraries, making detailed summaries. And the main theoretical conclusions were made only after analysis of received materials at home, on his table in a modestly decorated cabinet. Soon overwork began to seriously disturb him. Marx complained on pain in liver and general indisposition. But at the end of spring in 1867 the ten year work was successfully finished, and the first chapter of “Das Kapital” was prepared to be published, and at the end of the year it was published.

In spite of titanic scientific work, Karl Marx managed to have time to take an active part in revolutionary movement. His leading role in organization of the First International and its constitutive meeting in 1864 couldn’t be contested. He became the head of the leading authority of The First International – the general council, wrote its Constitutive Manifesto and Temporary regulations, which had regulations of the program and defined revolutionary direction of the organization.

Karl Marx was the first who paid attention to Russia as the possible area for the social revolution. He arranged contacts with Russian Revolutionaries and every year these contacts became wider and wider. Marx highly appreciated Russian literature about democratic direction and was sure that Russia would have the most important role in revolutionary process in the whole world.

Marx’ wife Jenny shared all misfortunes of her uneasy husband’s life, she had to suffer a lot of poverty, wandering and persecution. All Karl Marx’ friends knew that it was Jenny who was the closest helper and the main advisor. She rewrote many works of her husband, and also led correspondence with foreign companions. Marx was inconsolable when his wife died.

In 80-s his health worsened seriously, and according to the statement of one of his friends, the family began to be hunted by ill fate. At the end of 1881 Jenny died, and a year after the eldest Marx’ daughter, named after mother, died too. Karl Marx couldn’t endure these strikes, and on the 14th of March of 1883 he died. The funeral took place on the London cemetery on the 17th of March. Friedrich Engels, paying tribute to his friend, said prophetic words: “His business and name will go through centuries!”

Karl Marx’ main business in life was struggle for communism’s triumph, and he sacrificed his family, happiness and his own health for it. But, as Otto Bismark said, revolutions are organized by genius, made by fanatics, and shady dealers use its results. The history showed that the iron chancellor was absolutely right.