Jenny Marx

[pandora]

What do people know about Karl Marx's wife Jenny. It seems she was very bright but had little ability to gain advancement or education as a woman of that time and being very poor. However in dialogue and in copying Marx's manuscripts and handling much of the buisness end of his publishing, she became quite knowledgeable in radical philosophy and politics herself.

There is a study from the late 70's early 80's that offered evidence that she wrote several of Marx's essays, most likely to give him more time for other work, and to give her an opportuntiy to publish her ideas.

Does anyone know which essays are considered hers?
And where I can find this study?

[Essential Insignificance]

Many writers and scholars on Marx have constantly put a definite, "unintelligent hat" upon jenny Marx; however I’m disposed to disagree, rather stalwartly. Just from reading some of her letters to Marx, Engel’s and her family back in Germany you can see a lot literary talent.

As for you her being "very poor"; I don’t know were you got that from; for she come from an aristocratic family and was well educated; for which Marx was very "proud" to marry into. Her inheritance, the feeble bit that she was allocated, from her parents was used to keep the Marx family alive and to move into an upper class suburb in London for many years.

Your right she did "copy" a lot of Marx’s works; to make it readable for other people and publishers…surely a lot would have been picked up from that alone.

As for her writing some of Marx’s essays; I doubt it…although I would not be surprised if she wrote some articles for the "New York Tribute" like Engel’s did under Marx’s name, throughout her life time…I feel almost certain about that.

One last thing; I’m very dubious from what I can understand of Marx and his personality; that he would have married someone with not a very "high intelligence"…just a guess.

Also, she was married to Karl Marx(!), I'm positive she would have learnt many diverse things from him; philosophy, politics, sociology, economics, etc...just by living in the same house.

[redstar2000]

I didn't know there was an actual study, but I have heard the rumor.

Jenny Marx didn't grow up poor; she was actually "minor league" nobility and enjoyed whatever "education" was available to young girls of her station (private tutoring, most likely).

I did read a short biography of her some years ago...and there seems no doubt that she was heavily involved in Marx's political work; she also did a lot to help political refugees from the continent.

Did she actually write (or re-write) any of Marx's shorter works?

Beats me.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[Essential Insignificance]

All in all, she was a great woman, who stood by Marx in great times of difficulty.