A Spectre, Haunting

In A Spectre, Haunting, China Miéville provides a brilliant and imaginative reading of one of the modern world's most controversial and enduring political documents: The Communist Manifesto. This book goes beyond a mere analysis, delving into the historical, cultural, and social impact of Marx and Engels's seminal work, while also reflecting on its relevance in today's world. Miéville, known for his genre-defying writing, brings his signature creativity and critical thought to illuminate the Manifesto’s significance and enduring power.

Published in 1848 by German émigrés Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto presented an apocalyptic vision of a capitalist system that infiltrates every aspect of life, reducing relationships to mere profit-driven interactions and dismantling traditional forms of production and governance. This vision remains eerily relevant today, as the same vampiric energy of capitalism continues to be a highly contentious and pervasive force. The document's sustained resonance is a testament to its foundational role in modern political debate, and its ongoing ability to inspire movements around the globe.

China Miéville, unfettered by conventional disciplinary boundaries, offers a fresh and captivating interpretation of Marx’s most haunting work. Like The Communist Manifesto itself, A Spectre, Haunting is imbued with themes of ghosts, sorcery, and the relentless drive of creative destruction. Miéville's exploration sharpens our understanding of contemporary internationalist movements and the urgent need for systemic change.

Renowned figures have praised Miéville's work for its insightful and reflective approach:

'Read this and be dazzled by its contemporaneity' Mike Davis

'A rich, luminous reflection of and on a light that never quite goes out' Andreas Malm

'Reading with [Miéville] today sharpens our senses to contemporary internationalist movements from below' Ruth Wilson Gilmore

'[Written] with diligence and a ruthlessly critical eye worthy of Marx himself' Sarah Jaffe

'It's thrilling to accompany Miéville... as he wrestles – in critical good faith and incandescent commitment – with a manifesto that still calls on us to build a new world' Naomi Klein

Miéville’s A Spectre, Haunting is a crucial, thought-provoking work that insists on the continued relevance of The Communist Manifesto. This exploration is not merely academic; it is a call to engage with the revolutionary ideas that aim to reshape our world. Whether you are a seasoned scholar of political theory or a curious reader, this book offers a dazzling and essential perspective on a text that still stirs minds and movements across the globe.