NINEEpilogue
Here, to conclude, are descriptions from seven people who knew Marx
personally. They are interesting both in their divergence and in the insight
that each presents. They are followed by Marx's own account of himself
as given in the Victorian parlour game of 'Confessions'.
The Russian AristocratMarx himself was the type of man who is made up of energy, will and
unshakable conviction. He was most remarkable in his appearance. He
had a shock of deep black hair and hairy hands and his coat was buttoned
wrong; but he looked like a man with the right and power to demand
respect, no matter how he appeared before you and no matter what he
did. His movements were clumsy but confident and self-reliant, his ways
defied the usual conventions in human relations, but they were dignified
and somewhat disdainful; his sharp metallic voice was wonderfully adapted
to the radical judgements that he passed on persons and things. He always
spoke in imperative words that would brook no contradiction and were
made all the sharper by the almost painful impression of the tone which
ran through everything he said. This tone expressed the firm conviction
of his mission to dominate men's minds and prescribe them their laws.
Before me stood the embodiment of a democratic dictator such as one
might imagine in a day dream.
P. Annenkov, 'Eine russische Stimme tiber
Karl Marx', Die neue Zeit (1883)
The American SenatorHe could not have been much more than thirty years old at that time,
but he was already the recognised head of the advanced socialistic school.
The somewhat thick-set man, with broad forehead, very black hair and
beard and dark sparkling eyes, at once attracted general attention. He
enjoyed the reputation of having acquired great learning.. .. Marx's utter-
ances were indeed full of meaning, logical and clear, but I have never
seen a man whose bearing was so provoking and intolerable. To no