This detailed study of Marx's Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 demonstrates the unity of the different manuscripts, and clarifies and expands upon many of Marx's obscured thoughts. Marx developed a central notion of the importance of human labour in the history of society based on German philosophy, English political economy and French socialism. The first part of this book outlines Marx's theory of alienation. The second deals with his relationship to Hegel, refuting various conjectures such as the alleged influence of Hegel's master/slave dialectic. In the final section, the book assesses the importance and limitations of Marx's 1844 manuscripts, and investigates their links with his later works and his hopes for socialism.