Abstract: Isaiah Berlin's first book provides an attractive and clear introduction to Marx's life and thought. First published in 1939, at a time when Marxism was both contentious and fashionable in Britain, it has remained in print almost continuously ever since. It has a wider importance in that it foreshadows some of the themes that were to find expression in Berlin's later works. Further editions appeared in 1948, 1963, and 1978, incorporating Berlin's revisions and additions. The fourth edition was reissued in 1995 with a foreword by Alan Ryan and an updated version of the bibliography by Terrell Carver that was added in 1978.

Keywords: Isaiah Berlin, Terrell Carver, introduction, Karl Marx, Marxism, Alan Rya