Marx, Lehmann Bros, Bertrand Russell and the Communist Manifesto in Worthing

On my desk sits a picture of Bertrand Russell “…with pipe and slippers”, a picture I discovered in Rome last year at the same time as I was nearing the completion of Russell’s “History of Western Philosophy”. I installed the picture at the suggestion of a friend who thought Russell would provide inspiration. The book, which was an Xmas gift from my son, has been both inspiring and extremely useful for reference. The picture, however, has had no magical, spiritual or material influence on my life and I dare say Russell would have found it amusing that his picture was in place rather as a holy picture might have been in my young Roman Catholic years

Now though, the picture is festooned with Postit notes as is the rest of my desk area, which I ceded to my son when he arrived at my place to complete his Master’s dissertation. He completed the work last Monday and is now in Greece. The Postits remain as I endeavour to absorb these prompts.

To the left of Russell’s head is “Hegel – Universality+particularity ANTAGONISM”. To the right “explain exploitation and then why the proletariat would want to recreate it (?)”. Then there are these - “ideology comes from the material conditions, and so they must be abolished (universal revolution)” “ideology is the capitalist’s drive” “crisis is the crowning point of ideology”.

On the first anniversary of the Lehmann Brothers collapse and having recently learnt from a very sound informant that one top banker spends £2000 per week on food for his family of four, for me to be contemplating these slightly arcane Postit messages has been straightening and finally informative. I think I might get to like Karl Marx

During my commercial and general work life I have experienced many stressful, demanding periods but nothing had prepared me for the time I spent with my son as he approached the delivery day for his work. During the final 36 hours he slept for just 90 minutes. I didn’t manage much more myself although I did manage to complete a cryptic crossword for the first time in many years

During the build up to Delivery Day, 7th September, there was occasionally some humour and this took the biscuit for me

“I need a copy of the Communist Manifesto!!” he announced rather overbearingly.

…….it was Friday afternoon, 4th September, and the tension had reached a level I had not envisaged. Only two clear days to go before the delivery of this piece of work, his dissertation for an MA, which, by then was grafted onto me and living uneasily alongside a very separate perception of urgency, importance and the Marxist view on the current economic situation

Living in Worthing is often intellectually challenging. Challenging from the ankles up. To suddenly be in need of the communist manifesto in a town which has not produced a Labour Councillor in 40 years is a truly shocking thought. Could one find a Walnut Whip widely available at a Weight Watchers convention?

Waterstones was Luke’s suggestion. The Waterstones which is only 50 metres from my front door files philosophy under “Mysticism and Alternative Therapy”. The local library did not answer the phone. The Communist Manifesto discussion ended behind a firmly closed door.

In time the need for the Communist Manifesto had, somehow, been diminished by his new train of thought. I had retired to some ironic ironing.

I can’t remember exactly how much time Luke spent with me but it has been one of the most profoundly stimulating times of my entire existence. My life played out roughly as normal but against the utterly unfamiliar academic backdrop. I do know that the acquisition of knowledge, the development of ideas and the sharing of all that information is humankind’s highest achievement

I must see if I can find a Communist Manifesto in Worthing.