Literature and Revolution

Literature and Revolution (Russian: Литература и революция) is a work of literary criticism from the Marxist standpoint written by Leon Trotsky in 1924.

By discussing the various literary trends that were around in Russia between the revolutions of 1905 and 1917, Trotsky analyzed the concrete forces in society, both progressive as well as reactionary, that helped shape the consciousness of writers at the time.

In the book, Trotsky also argued that since the dawn of civilization, art had always borne the stamp of the ruling class and was primarily a vehicle that expressed its tastes and sensibilities.

More correctly, the shell in which the cultural construction and self-education of Communist man will be enclosed, will develop all the vital elements of contemporary art to the highest point.

Yet, Knei-Paz added that an underlying limitation of Trotsky’s analysis was that he premised the overall legitimacy of art on the basis of a political criteria.