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What Marx and Engels found at the Victorian beach: spies and temperance campaigners
The founders of communism did like to be beside the seaside — KEITH FLETT takes look at some of Marx’s holiday correspondence from 150 years ago

WITH many holidaymakers — time and money allowing — set to come to Britain again this year, it’s interesting to look back to some of the seaside experiences of Marx and Engels.
Both were great enthusiasts for English seaside resorts, although not often together.
The issue of government spies and infiltrators into radical and labour movement organisations is a current concern. It is, however, nothing new.
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From bemoaning London’s ‘cockneys’ invading seaside towns to negotiating holiday rents, the founders of scientific socialism maintained a wry detachment from Victorian Easter customs while using the break for health and politics, writes KEITH FLETT

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