Fascinating

long. but worth it for a detailed insight to the industry of the UK in the 1800s

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12 people found this helpful

Excellent

I would never have got round to reading this, but it was a joy to listen to. Le Page brings Marx to life and makes a sometimes difficult text as easy to follow as possible.

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Colossal first volume of a world-changing work

Karl Marx’s world-changing work of political economy was published in three volumes (the latter two posthumously, based on his notes, by his co-conspirator Friedrich Engels), this first one in 1867. It’s an enormous work, with this first volume coming to 43 hours as here read, and the latter volumes to 29½ hours and 50 hours respectively. It is, therefore, a serious achievement just to produce this in audio format.

As for the work itself, it is, as the subtitle states, “a critique of political economy.” He builds on the work of earlier economic theorists such as Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill and his father James Mill, and David Ricardo, and many others. However, it is with little sympathy that Marx comments on these earlier economic writers, often referring to them as ‘bourgeois economists,’ and their work as ‘bourgeois economy,’ on account of their (in his view) uncritical acceptance of the evils of society brought about by the capitalistic mode of production.

As for these evils, he spends a great proportion of this volume in detailing the miserable conditions of the working class, particularly in England (as the first country to undergo industrial revolution, and therefore, the most fully developed example of a capitalistic society). For this, he makes much use of the Factory Acts of the nineteenth century, and from the various reports of the Inspectors of Factories during the 1840’s, 50’s and 60’s, both of which he quotes extensively. The picture thus painted is of a class of people miserably trodden down by the voracious machinations of industrial capitalists.

This is all, of course, groundwork for his theory of the inevitable overthrow of the capitalistic class by the proletariat (a prediction which was of course fulfilled with dire consequences during the 20th century), which will be developed in the subsequent volumes. Here, he only gives, towards the end of the volume (viz., in chapter 32), the merest hints of the inevitability of the revolution.

One thing I did find puzzling. In chapter 28, at 2°1’00” remaining of the book, Marx refers to “Sections 18 and 19 of the Statute of Apprentices of [Queen] Elizabeth [I],” and then says that, “A statute of 1360 increased the penalties” of the former statute — which is manifestly impossible. In this case I don’t know whether the error lies in the text, in the printing, or in the narration.

The version reproduced here is the Samuel Moore and Edward Aveling translation, with revisions translated from the Fourth German Edition of 1906. It is reproduced complete, including the various prefaces, and with every footnote.

Also, Ukemi Audiobooks (its producer) have taken the trouble to lay out the audiobook in named and hierarchical sections, making it really easy to find a particular chapter or section. (For some reason they didn’t bother to do this with Volume 2, which is a pity.)

Narration

Derek le Page is an excellent choice to narrate this work.

His pace of reading is very good throughout, as is his clarity. Although I often had to rewind slightly in order to follow a particular argument, very seldom did I have to rewind because of any unclearness on his part. His voice is very easy on the ears, and he generally puts his emphasis and his pauses in just the right places. Very impressive over forty-three hours of narration.

Although le Page clearly has some school French, German and Latin — essential to the narration of this work — and generally has a good go at the foreign phrases and sentences in these languages, nevertheless his attempts are sometimes rather comical. However, they are at least clear, so it’s easy enough (if you know the languages) to catch the meaning.

Besides the foreign phrases, there are one or two comedy moments in the narration.

In chapter 24, Section 3, at 10°8’ remaining of the book, he pronounces what he evidently reads as “John St. Mill,” as, “John Saint Mill,” rather than “John Stuart Mill”!

And in chapter 31, at 1°3’ remaining of the book, we have le Page’s comical pronunciation of the writer Bolingbroke, which he pronounces as seen, but which ought to be pronounced ‘Bollingbrook’ (as in ‘Bolingbroke Castle’). I’m surprised le Page didn’t know this.

However, minor flaws these. In all, this audiobook is a tremendous achievement both by the producers and by the narrator.

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Based

Didn’t learn anything about capitals and now my boss and land lord hates me 1/5

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1 person found this helpful

Most important book ever written.

Narration was excellent. Marx's analysis and scathing critique of Capitalism is essential to not only read but study in depth.

Reading this book allowed me to understand the writings of Lenin and others on a deeper and more profound level.

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Unparalleled work

Marx got it right about capitalism. The most in-depth and ambitious critique of the current system that many of his detractors have failed refute. Their only recourse left is slander.

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Good moments, dreary in most places

It is a reminder to listeners that this is written in the olden English and is therefore strenuously long and repetitive, especially one of the chapters about value and linen. Listen to as much as you can bear and then move on to the next chapter.
All in all a very long listen, but full of quality quotes from Marx and his footnotes.
This book is not about communism, it’s about ‘class struggle’, and he explains in detail the perspective of both sides, of the proletariat and of the Bourgeoise.

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15 people found this helpful

essential listening

essential listening if you're looking j to political science and socio-economic impact. there's much you can take from this to help shape yourself.

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Great economics book!

It is worth reading. His critic of everything economic wise is fabulous. Not to mention the details he gets into explaining a subject.

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absolutely great way to read a stone cold classic

an absolute banger of a book. First 10 chapters are pretty heavy going but it does get easier (i promise).

Derek le Page is a great reader who really helps you grasp the meaning of the book even doing the sarcastic parts with the right level of sass.

Read this book then change the world

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3 people found this helpful