A New Biography of Marx

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Frank Thomas Walker (1918-1996) had a lifetime interest in Karl Marx.
During his working years he would spend most of his leisure time
reading, researching and writing about Marx and he continued with this
interest after his retirement. He continued to revise and add to his
research until his death.

Living in London until 1976, Frank was a well known visitor in many
libraries including the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell where he
spent many hours. He also frequented the many second hand bookshops
throughout London including the bookstalls in Farringdon Road (now
gone) and he was able to build up a large library of books and other
materials to aid his research. He engaged the assistance of his family
to obtain access to and photocopies of additional materials from
library resources around the country and abroad, and he made effective
use of his membership of the British Library. He corresponded with
like minded individuals in Germany, France and Italy to further his
research.

Frank appreciated that he needed to be able to read the literature not
only published in English but also that published in French, German
and Russian and, like Marx, taught himself these skills. His library
of well over 3000 items, contained books, journals, copies of letters,
and pamphlets in all these languages and formed the basis for his
research materials. His library was split up when sold after his death.

This book was written by Frank over many years and revised by him
several times. He never felt it was finished and never looked to
publish it during his lifetime. Whilst pertinent personal information
is included, the biography concentrates on Marx’s writings, his
contemporary radical thinkers and activists, and his influence on the
main political events happening in Europe during his lifetime. Some of
the information contained within should be familiar to readers already
knowledgeable about Marx, but there will also be fresh gems of
information and interpretations of events that will add to the
knowledge of Marxist scholars everywhere.

The actual manuscript was in the form of typewritten sheets with a
large number of hand written amendments and additions and it has taken
a long time for a publishable version to be prepared. At last it is
complete and all Frank’s research can now be accessed by academics and
anyone with an interest in Marx. This work will be welcomed by
everyone interested in Marx’s life, work and times and would be a
useful addition to many libraries. Published as an e-book on CD-ROM,
2009, 410 pages.