Roses for Gramsci

A remarkable personal journey through the life and writings of the great Sardinian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci>The result is a stunning portrait that offers fresh insights into nearly every aspect of Gramsci's often tortured existence: a childhood scarred by severe health problems; his growing understanding of political economy; his generosity and kindness; his grasp of the culture of workers and peasants; his friendship with the economist Piero Sraffa; and his frustration trying to communicate with and be father to the son he never saw. Above all, Merrifield illuminates how Gramsci kept his humanity, suffering horribly in prison while writing a revolutionary classic, The Prison Notebooks. Personal, compassionate, moving--and illustrated with the author's photographs --Merrifield revives both the legacy and meaning of Gramsci's work and the dying art of belles lettres. Roses for Gramsci is an evocative and indelible book.