The Fellow-Travellers – A Postscript to the Enlightenment

MacMillan, New York, 1973. First Edition. Hardcover. Good Condition/Fair. Introduction by author, references, bibliography and index. Pink coloured cloth covered boards with dark blue coloured titles to the back strip. Illustrated dustwrapper with red and black coloured titles to the front panel and back strip. Since the time of the Bolshevik Revolution, many distinguished Western intellectuals have felt a tremendous sympathy for the social systems of the Soviet Union, the "popular democracies" and Communist China. Some became Communist but many did not; more ambivalent in their commitment, they soon came to be known as fellow-travellers. – The fellow travellers included some of the most famous writers, scholars, philosophers, scientists and politicians of the century – the author demonstrates why and how the international communist movement harnessed to its own ends the reputations of these and other celebrated non-communists. While not evading moral judgements, he is concerned primarily with unravelling the motivations of intelligent men whose allegiance may in retrospect seem to have been misplaced. Above all, he forces us to think again about the great Soviet experiment and the criteria by which it can be judged. – Paraphrasing the dustjacket. Softening to the back strip edges with minor bumping of the book corners rubbing of the book edges with foxing to the book panels – predominantly at the edges and to the back strip stop age toning of the text block edges and pages. The dustwrapper is not in great shape – please see photograph. Chipping and some caring of the dustwrapper corners and back strip edges. A previous owner has supported the various tears and Chipping of the dustwrapper with tape which is on the verso and on the right side of the dustwrapper. Rubbing marking and sunning to the dustwrapper with fading of the back strip. Insect trails can be seen to the back strip and rear panel. Some marks to the verso. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. (10), 434 pages, including references, bibliography and index, in original pink cloth covered boards, with illustrated dustjacket. Trace of foxing to the top and front edges of the textblock. Signs of insect damage to the top edge of the front panel of the dustjacket. Internally clean and free of damage, with previous owners details on the 1st page.. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Politics & Government; communism; Biography & Autobiography. Inventory No: 0289088. .