At the end of the Civil War, Marx wrote to Lincoln congratulating him on his re- election as President. Describing Lincoln as the "single-minded son of the working class" Marx told him that the "rescue of an enchained race" would lead to the "reconstruction of a social world".

However, despite an extraordinary series of strikes influenced by Marx's ideas, that reconstruction did not materialize. Without Lincoln at the helm, the battle to advance the rights of labour and unite black and white remained unfinished.

Robin Blackburn gives a ground-breaking and compelling account of how Marx's ideas had a far greater impact on America at the time than has been recognized.

Robin Blackburn is a socialist historian, a former editor of New Left Review and a world authority on the history of slavery. He is Professor of Sociology at the University of Essex and teaches at the Graduate Faculty of the New School University, New York. His books include: The Making of New World Slavery, The Overthrow of Colonial Slavery, The American Crucible, Age Shock and Banking on Death.

Time: Doors open at 7 pm for refreshments. The Talk is at 7.30 pm.

Booking: in advance by email only at events@highgate-cemetery.org. Tickets are £7 each (£5 for students) including refreshments and nibbles.