The Red Flag is an epic story of a political and intellectual movement that has taken root in dozens of countries across two centuries, from its birth after the French Revolution to its ideological maturity in nineteenth-century Germany to its rise to dominance (and subsequent fall) in the twentieth century.

This comprehensive narrative explores the motives of thinkers and leaders including Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Castro, Che Guevara, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Gorbachev, and many others.

The book also delves into the experience of living under Communism for its millions of subjects.

With a nuanced understanding of communism as an ideology that took on different forms depending on local and historical context, Priestland sheds light on the inherent instability of this political movement.

As global capitalism faces crisis and new political forces emerge to challenge Western democracy, The Red Flag is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the lessons of the past to navigate the future.