Revolutions are an essential aspect of global modernity. It is therefore not surprising that intellectuals dreamt of revolutionary change in the future while reflecting about revolutions of the past. Frank Jacob traces this thought process for German left intellectuals of the 'long' 19th century to show how revolutionary ideas were changed over time and in how far revolution theory was challenged and adjusted according to historical events and the actual experience of revolutions.

Frank Jacobs book offers a longue durée approach to revolutionary ideas, as they were thought and expressed by German left intellectuals from the French to the Russian Revolution.