New York Times book critic Dwight Garner on Wednesday enthused over a new biography of Friedrich Engels, cooing that Marxism is "back in vogue" and adding that the founding communist comes across as a "jovial man of outsize appetites" in Tristram Hunt’s new biography "Marx’s General."
Garner opened the review by insisting that decrying capitalism is now hip again: "Thanks to globalism’s discontents and the financial crisis that has spread across the planet, Karl Marx and his analysis of capitalism’s dark, wormy side are back in vogue."
Writing approvingly of Hunt’s argument that the man who co-wrote "The Communist Manifesto" in 1848 has "become a convenient scapegoat, too easily blamed for the state crimes of the Soviet Union and Communist Southeast Asia and China," Garner delighted in recounting the charming stories that the author reveals about Engels:
A few of this book’s piquant details: Engels was proud of his lobster salad and liked to fox hunt. He hosted regular Sunday parties for London’s left-wing intelligentsia and, as one regular put it, "no one left before 2 or 3 in the morning." On a personality quiz, three of Engels answers were: "Favorite virtue: jollity"; "Idea of happiness: Château Margaux 1848"; "Motto: take it easy."
Towards the end of the review, Garner did allow that Engels possessed a few negatives:
As artfully as Mr. Hunt flushes out Engels’s human side, he can’t — and to be fair, doesn’t try to — hide the brutal ideologue that also existed inside his cranium. Engels was an advocate, on at least one occasion, of ethnic cleansing; his writing about science helped lead to the abominations of Soviet-style scientific inquiry, which dismissed results that might be seen as bourgeois. He was a master tactician whose purging of rivals in political organizations foreshadowed later purges.
However, the Times critic quickly moved on to defending this gentle communist:
Ultimately, however, Mr. Hunt largely exonerates him. "In no intelligible sense can Engels or Marx bear culpability for the crimes of historical actors carried out generations later," he writes, "even if the policies were offered up in their honor." Engels was skeptical of top-down revolutions, Mr. Hunt notes, and later in life advocated a peaceful, democratic road to socialism. He connects Engels the man to Engels the thinker. "This great lover of the good life, passionate advocate of individuality, and enthusiastic believer in literature, culture, art and music as an open forum could never have acceded to the Soviet Communism of the 20th century, all the Stalinist claims of his paternity notwithstanding," he writes. Engels almost certainly was, in other words, the kind of man Stalin would have had shot.
Garner concluded the review by claiming Engels as a witty, fun drinking buddy. He enthused, "At the end of this vivid and thoughtful biography, you are quite persuaded that Friedrich Engels would have been a fine man to drink a Margaux with."
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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They don't even try to hide
August 19, 2009 - 16:43 ET by NewsbusterbrownThey don't even try to hide it anymore.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Moral and intellectual
August 19, 2009 - 17:00 ET by G. MayMoral and intellectual bankruptcy is only hip with people concerned with being hip.
I thought.............
August 19, 2009 - 17:00 ET by BEGRUNT"Groucho" was the best Marx!! LOL. Seriously though, I think the interest has more to do with people wanting to see where Zero is getting his "ideas" from.
Evan Thomas is smiling...
August 19, 2009 - 17:00 ET by d1carterEvan Thomas is smiling...
d1... You
August 19, 2009 - 17:09 ET by bigtimerd1...
You betcha!
Obama's a Community Agitator, a walking, talking destroyer. ~ Rush Limbaugh
Tyranny has always been
August 19, 2009 - 18:22 ET by jdhawkTyranny has always been in. Look across the planet if you don't believe me. The thug murdering bastards that run over 100 countries on this planet love this kind of "critique." It only bolsters their case.
Meanwhile, over 100 million people and counting have been incarcerated, tortured, and ultimately murdered by leftists dictators including Mao, Stalin, and Hitler - another leftists - among others. But, hey let's glorify the dumbass philosphers and their "philosophy" that helped dictators justify any means necessary to gain and maintain power.
Hadn;t noticed -- haven't read that rag for years...
August 19, 2009 - 18:34 ET by wnaegeleSigh!
A few of this book’s
August 19, 2009 - 20:14 ET by MidAmericaA few of this book’s piquant details: Engels was proud of his lobster salad and liked to fox hunt. He hosted regular Sunday parties for London’s left-wing intelligentsia and, as one regular put it, "no one left before 2 or 3 in the morning." On a personality quiz, three of Engels answers were: "Favorite virtue: jollity"; "Idea of happiness: Château Margaux 1848"; "Motto: take it easy."
Engals is a perfect example of a leftie. Love to live the good life while seething with anger and jealosy at those who live well also. Lefties don't want to just feel special they want to feel extra special. Our current president is a good example, he's been warning us all to hunker down, cut back and struggle because of an economic crisis. But for himself and his family? They enjoy parties at the Whitehouse and fabulous clothes and jetting to romantic dates just for the evening. Obama finds error when a corporate officer is compensated beyond what obama's thinks is worthy but yet obama has no difficulty cashing checks for his 'autobiography' in the millions. After obama leaves office he will rake in millions more on the speaking circuit. Obama has no problem with capitalism for himself it's just that he doesn't want all the rest of us to be debased by such an inherently unfair system.
It's not uncommon for
August 20, 2009 - 01:12 ET by Indiana JoeIt's not uncommon for people to feel they can "win" more easily if they place others at a disadvantage. If the other runners are hobbled, it is easy for them to achieve "victory." Seems the most obvious effect of "people's movements" throughout the history of the last century.
Death, of course, being the ultimate "disadvantage."
"Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants." - Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1
BAAA BAAAA
August 19, 2009 - 20:20 ET by nadadhimmiHey Garner, do you keep any of your salary? What?? you don't go down to the Bowery and equitibly distribute it to the bums? Why you effing Capitalist Pig. Greedy Bastard. Your Gods Marx and Obama wish you to redistribute your wealth, pig. Come on Garner, get in vogue and be trendy.
Hold on there, nada.
August 19, 2009 - 21:05 ET by needleMarx and Obama wish to redistribute our wealth (i.e., yours, nada, and mine).
Garner probably does not even pay taxes. We all got a lesson in that during the Cabinet confirmation process.
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
I love the way the Left is
August 19, 2009 - 20:47 ET by danebramageI love the way the Left is always trying to pretend that big business is the driving force behind "globalism;" i.e. the move toward a one-world government. The fact is that corporations have no power to write laws and/or abolish national borders. Those things are done by politicians. It is government, acting either in concert with big business or independently, for its own nefarious purposes, who is the actual player in this game.
Make no mistake: the push for the whole world to be united under a single set of laws is the special project of the totalitarian left. Indeed, it is their primary and ultimate goal. Their objection to "economic globalism" as it exists today is simply an objection to free market capitalism and a flow/distribution of money over which they exercise little control. Once the proceeds from such transactions begin to flow into their one-world coffers (and their personal bank accounts), all such objections will magically vanish down the rabbit hole of history, as if they had never happened.
"It is government, acting
August 19, 2009 - 22:14 ET by misterbill"It is government, acting either in concert with big business or independently, for its own nefarious purposes, who is the actual player in this game."
I agree. What would be the first logical step for an American leftie (or possibly just a pol that thinks globalism--one government, etc.), would be???
Ooh, Ooh, Mr. Kotter! I mean, misterbill!
August 20, 2009 - 01:20 ET by Indiana JoeSnatching as much of the American economy to the government breast as is possible? Such as, I don't know, maybe a large manufacturing base (autos), a big chunk of the financial system (banks), and something that includes 1/6th of the economy... like, say, health-care?
Right?
"Let me be perfectly
August 19, 2009 - 21:26 ET by RR GOP"Let me be perfectly clear"...they will bury us.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
NY SLIMES...
August 19, 2009 - 21:50 ET by danybhoyTell me again why the circulation of the NY Slimes is falling off the cliff as often as Wile E Coyote. Does anyone outside of Manhattan, The Beltway, or the MSM give a damn about this fishwrap?
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
NY Fishwrap
August 20, 2009 - 05:02 ET by AgnosticI put the NYT in the bottom of the birdcage but the bird became constipated.
I wrapped the fish in the NYT but then it had a foul taste when I cooked the meat.
The paper then smelled fishy so I turned it into the WhiteHouse's Big Brother network.
Now I am spammed by Axlerod, ACORN and SEIU. At least its easier to get rid of the spam than it was the NYT.
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections
Funny,
August 20, 2009 - 01:21 ET by Indiana JoeI didn't think the NYT ever thought Marxism was "out of vogue."