12 Comments
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Lana's avatar

Thank you so much loved learning more about Engels. I've always been fascinated about their dynamic and relationship. Makes me wonder how they met

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History Explored's avatar

I didn’t know that about Engels’ wife!

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Your Irish History Fix's avatar

Yeah it's super interesting, when she passed away he dated her sister!! I did my MPhil dissertation on Britain's Irish diaspora and the British Communist Party in the 1920s/30s, so I read about all this, though I forget some of it now. Saying that, it was only 3 years ago!

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Your Irish History Fix's avatar

They met once or twice, first in Germany then in Paris, before realising they had a lot in common with regards to their political ideals. I also find Engels really interesting! Both he and Marx had a lot to say about Ireland. Engels' wife was even Irish.

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Kenneth Rasmussen's avatar

This is an eloquent eulogy but would love something more comprehensive from you :) - for example the question did Engels take the ball from Marx and run a little bit in a slightly different direction? Remember, Karl was supposed to have said “I am not a Marxist”. Now I don’t think he had Freddy in mind, but I think it’s an intriguing theme.

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History Explored's avatar

Thanks Kenneth - at the moment I would like something more comprehensive from me! I take your point though, there’s much more about Engels that could be said. Best regards David M

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Bridget Hein's avatar

This is so well written! As someone who knows very little about either man, this article was comprehensive and very interesting. I particularly appreciated the cultural context behind why Engles formed his specific political/philosophical views.

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History Explored's avatar

Thanks Bridget, I very much appreciate your comment

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Adomas Pūras, Ph.D.'s avatar

Thank you for this insightful reflection on their relationship. I remembered reading a funny story about these two, namely that Marx was annoyed with Engels for hunting foxes with the aristocrats. Engels replied that he was simply trying to stay fit for the revolution. Don’s know if it’s a true story :)

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History Explored's avatar

Thanks Adomas, much appreciated! If the story isn’t true, it should be 😀 Engels’ father was wealthy and owned a mill/factory in the north of England and for a while Engels worked for him. I recall reading he did “ride to hounds” - fox hunting etc - and that Marx did rib him about this from time to time - best regards David M

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Begonia's avatar

Was Engels a Jesuit?

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History Explored's avatar

Don’t think so. He was baptised in a Calvinist Reformed evangelical church. In his 20s he said he was atheist

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