The Making of Marx's Capital

The Making of Marx's Capital provides a detailed examination of Marx's economic manuscripts from 1857-1858, known as the Grundrisse, and their relationship to his later work Capital. Rosdolsky analyzes the evolution of Marx's economic theories through careful study of his draft writings and revisions. The book traces the development of key concepts in Marxist economics, from the theory of value to the nature of economic crises. It explains how Marx refined and expanded his ideas through multiple drafts before arriving at the final published version of Capital. Rosdolsky examines Marx's methodology and theoretical framework by comparing different versions of his texts and analyzing changes in his approach over time. The work draws on extensive research into Marx's correspondence and unpublished materials. This scholarly analysis offers insights into both the intellectual origins of Capital and the process through which Marx developed his critique of political economy. The book remains an important resource for understanding the theoretical foundations of Marxist economics.

Most readers view this as a detailed analysis of Marx's economic theories and writing process, particularly focused on the Grundrisse manuscripts. Reviews indicate it aids comprehension of Das Kapital's complex concepts. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of Marx's methodology - Insights into how Marx developed his ideas between Grundrisse and Capital - Thorough analysis of value theory and money - Useful citations and references Common critiques: - Dense academic writing style - Assumes prior knowledge of Marxist theory - Some sections are repetitive - Translation can be awkward in places Ratings: Goodreads: 4.35/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (6 ratings) One reader noted it "requires serious dedication but rewards careful study." Another called it "indispensable for understanding Marx's economic manuscripts." Several reviewers mentioned needing to re-read sections multiple times to grasp the concepts fully.

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Marx's Grundrisse by Martin Nicolaus A systematic analysis of Marx's notebooks that bridges the gap between his early philosophical writings and Capital.

The Limits to Capital by David W. Harvey An extension of Marx's analysis to contemporary economic geography and crisis theory.

Marx's Capital and Capitalism Today by Anthony Cutler, Barry Hindess, Paul Hirst, and Athar Hussain A theoretical examination of Marx's economic concepts and their application to modern capitalism.

🔹 Roman Rosdolsky wrote this influential analysis of Marx's works while living as a refugee in the United States after fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. 🔹 The book was originally published in German in 1968 as "Zur Entstehungsgeschichte des Marxschen 'Kapital'" and was one of the first comprehensive studies of Marx's economic manuscripts from 1857-58 (known as the Grundrisse). 🔹 Rosdolsky spent nearly two decades working on this book, which helped revive interest in Marx's Grundrisse and demonstrated how it served as a crucial bridge between Marx's early philosophical writings and Das Kapital. 🔹 The author was both a historian and revolutionary activist who participated in the Ukrainian socialist movement and helped establish the Communist Party of Western Ukraine in the 1920s. 🔹 The book reveals how Marx drastically revised his original plan for Das Kapital, which was initially conceived as a six-volume work but was later condensed into the three volumes we know today.