Herbert Marcuse

‘I am convinced that Marcuse's ideas are just as valuable today as they were fifty years ago.’ – Angela Y. Davis (from the foreword)

Herbert Marcuse was one of the most unlikely pop stars of the twentieth century: a philosopher. In the 1960s, his argument for ‘unconditional utopianism’ catalysed the idealism of a revolutionary generation, and Marcuse became an intellectual leader for activists and revolutionaries around the world.

The graphic novel Herbert Marcuse: An Illustrated Biography takes readers on an entertaining and witty journey through his early years of study with Martin Heidegger and his escape from Nazi Germany. It describes his life in the United States and how he earned his status as an icon of left-wing counterculture there. At the same time, it allows readers to participate in the development of Marcuse's philosophical theories and political realities.

Marcuse's advocacy for a more humane, sustainable world was deeply rooted in his personal knowledge of the violence that emanates from authoritarianism and the risk of its resurgence. His work is enduringly relevant, radical and inspiring; Marcuse's concept of a ‘great refusal’ – protest against the status quo – is a guide for our times.

‘With great wit and attention to detail, cartoonist Nick Thorkelson illustrates Marcus' eventful life and introduces the core ideas of his major works.’ – Leon Maack, analyse & kritik