The Blackwell Companion to Major Classical Social Theorists provides a comprehensive review of classical social theory. Containing original essays especially commissioned for this volume, leading experts and practitioners examine the life and work of 12 major theorists. * Includes 12 original essays by leading scholars on major classical social theorists* Covers the key figures who shaped social theory, such as Marx, Weber and Durkheim, as well as additional classical theorists such as Harriet Martineau and W. E. B. Du Bois* Essays include biographical sketches, the social and intellectual context, and the impact of the thinker's work on social theory generally* Includes bibliographies of the theorist's most important works as well as key secondary works* Can be used in conjunction with The Blackwell Companion to Major Contemporary Social Theorists, edited by George Ritzer, for a complete reference source in social theory