20th-century Western Marxism emerged, to a great extent, in opposition to `orthodox' Stalinist Marxism, as Western theorists took Marxism and rewrote it in their own terms. This determined the general philosophical orientation of Western Marxism and in turn influenced its interpretation of historical materialism, its models of socialist political practice, and its views on human liberation.

This anthology of readings from the most significant post-Leninist Marxist thinkers demonstrates the extent to which that transformation took place. In an illuminating introduction, Roger Gottlieb places the readings in context to provide a clear account of intellectual debates and responses to the historical events that gave rise to the Western Marxist tradition. As such the collection is essential reading for students of 20th-century Marxism.

This selection also reflects the diversity and high level of intellectual accomplishment fostered by the movement, from the influential and controversial essays of Karl Lorsch and Georg Lukáks in the early 1920s to the writings of contemporary socialist feminists.