Late Communist Manifesto translator commemorated in Britain

CHESHIRE－The late translator of the first English version of the Communist Manifesto, Helen Macfarlane, was commemorated by members of the British Communist Party on Sunday.

During the commemorative event in Cheshire in northwest England, members of the British Communist Party laid flowers on Macfarlane's tombstone, paying homage to her contribution in spreading Marxism.

Born in Scotland in 1818, Macfarlane was a revolutionary journalist and columnist. In February 1848, the Communist Manifesto, which was written in German, was published in London. Two years later, Macfarlane's English translation of the Communist Manifesto was published.

In a statement, Zheng Xiyuan, the Chinese consul general in Manchester, paid tribute to Macfarlane's legacy, describing her work as having "a major impact on the international communist movement and the development of human history".

"It is well known that the Chinese version of the Communist Manifesto was translated from the English and Japanese versions," he said.

Kevan Nelson, international secretary of the Communist Party of Britain, said Macfarlane's translation of the manifesto impacted the British working-class movement at that time. Marxism still plays an important role in British society, helping people to better understand the problems of capitalism and inequality.

Nelson also noted that he was impressed by China's development led by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government during the past few years, acknowledging China's role in helping the development of other countries through mutual cooperation.

"China's contribution to human development, not just within China, is profound," he said.

The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels 170 years ago, has influenced millions of people and will continue to provide food for thought for centuries to come in China and the world.

Xinhua