Kmflett's Blog

Marx on Brighton & Ramsgate 1870 & 1871. You do need a weatherman

In August Marx was often to be found at the seaside, sometimes with his family, sometimes alone if had been banished there by his doctor for health reasons.

In 1870 he stayed with his family in Ramsgate from the 9^th to 31^st August 1870. He wrote to Engels on 8^th August 1870 just before his departure from London noting that he was not going to Brighton as planned since ‘the former place turned out on inquiry to be too hot’. Its not clear what Marx’s precise meaning was but he often preferred sea breezes for health reasons.

However the following year he had relented and stayed alone in Brighton from 17^th to 29^th August recovering from ‘overstrain’. He wrote to Jenny Marx on 25^th August 1871

On the whole the weather here has been stormy and rainy, so
that  I have not ceased to have colds with accompanying cough .
But the wonderful air and the bath that I take daily have had a
very good effect on my GENERAL STATE OF HEALTH