Karl Marx: A Life (Francis Wheen, 2001)

Biography written after the demise of communism.

Focuses on early radical days in Germany; dealing with Prussian authorities; moves to Paris and eventually to London.

Jenny = wife; noble birth.

Brilliant; constantly out of money, constantly supported by Engels.

Several children, several early deaths; fairly regular episodes of poor health; procrastinator as a writer (esp. w/r/t Capital).

Pretty much tried to (and did) live a bourgeois lifestyle.

Effective in the various socialist organizations but seldom got along well for long with folks. He was around for the 1848 revolutions; admired Darwin; became well known in England after writing a piece regarding the commune that ran France following the defeat to Bismark at Sedan. Died in early 1880s. Engels had to put together volumes 2 and 3 of Capital.