Karl Marxs political philosophy has resounded throughout politics and history, from the nineteenth century to the present day. In recent times however the concept of Marxism has become a vague term, of uncertain and contestable definition, increasingly inaccessible to those new to Marxs writings. How are we to understand Marxism when it has become so open to appropriation? In Karl Marx, Paul Thomas introduces the reader to Marxs life and writings, to show how each cast light on the other.