Georg Lukacs--from Romanticism to Bolshevism

Published in 1979 by Verso Books, this work by Michael Löwy serves as a critical intellectual biography of the Hungarian Marxist philosopher Georg Lukács. Löwy traces the complex ideological transformation of Lukács, examining the shift from his early neo-Kantian and Romantic roots to his eventual commitment to Bolshevism following the First World War. The book was produced during a period of renewed academic interest in Western Marxism, aiming to contextualize Lukács’s seminal text, History and Class Consciousness, within his broader philosophical evolution.

Löwy’s approach is deeply rooted in the tradition of critical theory, focusing on the tension between Lukács's cultural critiques and his political affiliations. By analyzing his transition through the lens of intellectual history, Löwy sought to challenge simplistic interpretations of Lukács’s work. The book was well-received within radical academic circles for its rigorous scholarship and its attempt to reconcile the seemingly disparate phases of Lukács's life, remaining a foundational reference for students of political philosophy and European intellectual history.