The Living Flame: The Revolutionary Passion of Rosa Luxemburg

Rosa Luxemburg, brilliant early 20th century German revolutionary, comes alive in a rich set of essays on her life, ideas, and lasting influence. The essays deal not only with her remarkable contributions to political, social and economic theory, but also touch on her vibrant personality and intimate friendships. This collection, the fruit of more than four decades of involvement with Luxemburg's work, simultaneously showcases her penetratingly intellectual, political and deeply humanistic qualities.

"These diverse, wide-ranging essays make an indispensable contribution to our understanding of Rosa Luxemburg, who emerges as formidable theorist, principled activist, and above all, a fully realized human being. Always attentive to the complex interplay between historical and individual dynamics, The Living Flame affirms Luxemburg's lasting contribution and underscores the relevance of her legacy for our own, very different, age. Paul Le Blanc illuminates Luxemburg's vision: "unrelenting revolutionary activity coupled with boundless humanity--that alone is the real life-giving force of socialism." -Helen Scott, author, The Storm of History: Shakespeare's Tempest and Capitalism

"Paul Le Blanc's essays are a profound and multidimensional investigation of a giant thinker and revolutionary. These works show meticulous historical and theoretical attentiveness and at the same time are hugely timely; a significant contribution to Rosa Luxemburg studies and Marxist theory and history." -Dana Mills, author, Rosa Luxemburg: Critical Lives

"These essays convey what many readers have come to expect from Paul Le Blanc: uncommonly nuanced, probing, and also deeply principled explorations. His mode of engagement nicely compliments that of Rosa Luxemburg and shows us her thoughts as a living and breathing work in progress, not merely echoes from an increasingly distant past. In addition, Le Blanc models how Marxists and Leftists in general might want to relate to one another when we debate complex issues and at times disagree. A meaningful exchange of viewpoints requires not only a comradely tone but also willingness to, first of all, truly understand someone else's perspective before countering it." -Axel Fair-Schulz, associate professor at SUNY Potsdam

Paul Le Blanc is a professor at La Roche College and the author/co-author of many books including A Freedom Budget for All Americans, Black Liberation and the American Dream, Left Americana and From Marx to Gramsci and is the editor of The Complete Works of Rosa Luxemburg.