Ted Grant: The Permanent Revolutionary

by Alan Woods

Ted Grant was a well-known figure in the international Marxist movement. He had a significant impact on British politics. When he died all the most important newspapers carried extensive obituaries that recognised this fact. This is a remarkable work that comprehensively covers the development of Ted's life and ideas, starting from his early family background in Johannesburg right up to his death in London in 2006 at the age of 93. From his earliest youth in South Africa Ted Grant dedicated his life to the struggle for the emancipation of the working class. Moving to Britain in 1934 to seek new horizons, within a decade he had become the leading theoretician of the Trotskyist movement. The book deals with the launch of the Fourth International and Ted's battle to defend the ideas of Trotsky, which brought him into conflict with the leaders of the International after the Second World War. It explains the important theoretical questions and debates of this period and it outlines Ted Grant's important theoretical contribution to Marxism. Ted was the founder and theoretical inspirer of the Militant Tendency, which Michael Crick once described as the fifth political party in Britain. The book traces the rise and fall of Militant. It provides a fascinating insight into a subject that remains a closed book to most political analysts even now. This is a truly amazing story of a truly amazing man, told with style, colour and wit. At the end you will feel that you have known Ted Grant all your life. The author, Alan Woods, has written many books on Marxism, was influential in the political evolution of Hugo Chávez and is the editor of the widely read website Marxist.com. He is a leading figure in the Socialist Appeal and the International Marxist Tendency.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Politics

290 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2013

About the author

Alan Woods is a Trotskyist political theorist. He is one of the leading members of the British group Socialist Appeal as well as its parent group, the International Marxist Tendency (IMT). He is political editor of the IMT's In Defence of Marxism website.

Woods supported the Militant tendency within the UK Labour Party until the early 1990s, when he and Ted Grant were expelled from the tendency and founded the Committee for a Marxist International (soon renamed International Marxist Tendency) in 1992. They continued with the policy of entryism into the Labour Party.

Woods has been particularly vocal in his support for the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, and has repeatedly met with the socialist Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, leading to speculation he was a close political adviser.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ted Grant is a side character to his ideas

[Corinne Lavallée · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching and highly educarive portrait of a great man.

[dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the most inspiring book I’ll read all year. Full of political insight, RCI lore, and a brilliant exposition of the fundamentals of marxism in tactics and action, Ted Grant has most assuredly earned his place among theoretical giants in the international communist movement. You can feel his enthusiasm through the page, excellently written by Alan Woods. I feel so proud to be apart of this man’s legacy and to held build what he dedicated his entire and long life to. If I am at least a quarter of the dedicated comrade Ted was, I’ll be happy. What an incredible time to be a communist, a member of the RCI, and most importantly, a Trotskyist in the likeness of Ted Grant.

[Leah Harthill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the most inspiring book I’ve read, what a giant!

[Thomas Soud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic History of a Remarkable Revolutionary

The history of Ted Grant is the history of keeping the spark of Marxism alive under the most difficult conditions. Despite all the odds he succeeded and that spark will go on to light the world on fire.

[Dorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned many things reading this book, a lot of valuable lessons for today's struggles

[Fabian Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utter masterpiece and must read. As inspiring as State and Revolution by Lenin, which of course comrades must not be without!

[Elias Wigerfelt Lans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Önska jag kunde träffa honom innan han dog.

Jag borde ha rest till London istället för att vara 3 år gammal.