If you come to the Islington Centre for English next year and have an interest in political history than no doubt Great Windmill Street in Soho, central London, will be a place to visit. This was where communism was born 70 years ago. At number 20 was the Red Lion Pub where in 1848 Karl Marx introduced to the world his Communist Manifesto giving lectures in the rooms above. What was a classic London pub is now a cocktail bar called Bar One. He lived at no 28 and 64 Dean Street and walked every day to the British Museum to write “Das Kapital”. In those days Soho was a deprived London area where many immigrants settled. The change of Soho into a decadent place of entertainment that it is today gives rise to the expression, “Karl must be turning in his grave”.
Ironically, Karl’s wife inherited a lot of money so he was able to move to Hampstead to a fine house with servants and when he died he was entombed in Highgate Cemetery. His tomb with magnificent bust is a world famous London tourist spot.
