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The Communist Manifesto

Penguin Classics

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The Communist Manifesto

By: Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, Gareth Stedman Jones - editor
Narrated by: Arinze Kene
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Arinzé Kene, writer and performer of Olivier Award nominated Misty, and also known for his roles in Youngers, Informer and Eastenders. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Gareth Stedman Jones.


The Communist Manifesto (1848), Marx and Engels's revolutionary summons to the working classes, is one of the most important and influential political theories ever formulated. After four years of collaboration the authors produced this incisive account of their idea of Communism, in which they envisage a society without classes, private property or a state. They argue that increasing exploitation of industrial workers will eventually lead to a revolution in which Capitalism is overthrown. This vision provided the theoretical basis of political systems in Russia, China, Cuba and Eastern Europe, affecting the lives of millions. The Communist Manifesto still remains a landmark text: a work that continues to influence and provoke debate on capitalism and class.

(c) 1888, Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels (P) 2019 Penguin Audio

 Essays Political Science Politics & Government Socialism Soviet Union Russia Capitalism Imperialism Liberalism

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All stars
Most relevant
As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a very long introduction for what is essentially quite a short primary text. I found the audio levels much lower than some other Audible titles and therefore found it hard to hear over some background noise. The pronunciation is a bit squiffy at times. The introduction is quite dry and academic but does put the work in its intellectual context. It didn’t exactly make we want to storm the barricades, although I did advocate for better pay and conditions for Deliveroo drivers while reading it!

Long introduction, poor pronunciation

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My only criticism would be that the reader can at times be a bit monotone. To some this may be relaxing and have an appeal to it but personally it can make it hard to listen for extended periods (3hours and beyond) in one sitting.

very good.

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I am very uncomfortable buying this off Amazon. Still a fantastic work of art which proves two massive points:
- capitalism sucks
- we need a revolution, things are getting kinda rough nowadays

- This is for Jeff Bezos’s eyes only -
Dear Mr Bezos,
When the revolution comes you are first
Sincerely, pretty much everybody

Putting the rad into radicalised

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This must be the only audiobook where the first three-quarters are taken up with people talking about the book rather than reading the book itself. The narrator is good however.

Good - if you like long intros.

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Given that Engles introduction and Marx's actual thesis are actually only about 90 minutes in duration, this 5 hours of Penguin Classic's endless explanation ABOUT the pamphlet, couched as a historic contexualisation for the reader, seems to me designed to contaminate the reader's mind with a prejudice related to the commercial foundation of the modern Publishing Business. It in no way contributes to enlightening the reader but instead benights him/her and bores with tedium. IMO.

The reader himself seems to share my experience and really only gets into the swing of things, when after 5 hours - if you can bare it for so long - (I confess to you that i myself gave up and skipped to Part 11 of this book where the original book actually begins and, it seemed to me, our reader's black british, working class accent connects with his hear and Marx and Engles material, and finally better engaging with this long suffering listener's curious mind about the authors not Penguin's editors opinions and erudition. Don't get this imprint of this classic.

Penguin's Endless Preface & Introduction

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