This classic study of the history of socialism is a must-read for anyone interested in political and economic theory, social justice, or the future of society. Tracing the evolution of socialist thought and practice from its earliest origins to the present day, the author explores the various strands of socialist theory and the social movements that have tried to put them into action. Along the way, he highlights the successes and failures of socialist experiments throughout history, and provides provocative insights into the challenges facing socialists in the modern world. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.