Marxism and History

Matt Perry has written a solid, consice and lucid educational sketch of Marxism's input into history. It is thoroughly coprehendible and is supported by a glossary of intellectual terms and what must seem like to those green to Marxism an entire underground dialect. Furthermore Perry introduces all basic tenets of Marx's philosophy before demonstrating their use as historical tool, in particular social history and 'history from below'.

It should go without saying that it is impossible to avoid partisanship in Marxist writing - even in an educational survey. I myself could only defend my own Marxist partisanship in writing. However one might find an undue weighting in Perry's selection of discussed historical writers; I do not criticise him for choosing a few authors to study in detail within the close perimiters of the book but the elevation of Trotsky and his political analysis of the Russian revolution to the acme of Marxist historiography seems jilted (especially next to a theoretical titan like Gramsci, fortunately covered.) It occurs that perhaps Perry's overt Trotskyism does not portray Marxist theory in as an objective light stood next to rival tendencies within it.

However although an increased broadness in historians could be desirable, the narrowness is understandable and his account of the British Communist Party Historians' Group should drive on anyone who hasn't already to reading the greats of Hobsbawm, Hill and Thompson. Moreover, Perry includes a very clear, understandable account of the the threat to history from Postmodernism and in particular the healthy rebuttal Marxism has inbuilt to reply with, touching on much interesting material on the way.

All in all, this is to be strongly recomend to those either wishing to move on their hisorical studies into social and Marxist fields or those interested in Marxism who would like to extend their understanding into the huge input that that system of thought has had in history and, indeed, the importance of history as a study for the sake of humanity.