This work investigates the complex, often contradictory historical relationship between Marxist theory and the development of anthropological thought. Maurice Bloch, a prominent anthropologist, evaluates how the foundational writings of Marx and Engels regarding primitive societies influenced subsequent generations of scholars. He examines the evolution of these ideas through the lens of political shifts, specifically focusing on the tensions within Soviet anthropology and the eventual resurgence of Marxist frameworks in Western academic circles.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational resource for understanding the intersection of historical materialism and ethnographic research. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a baseline familiarity with both Marxist terminology and anthropological history.