For two months between March and May 1871 the armed workers of Paris, surrounded by enemies on all sides, took their destiny into their own hands and demonstrated that it is possible for the workers to run society democratically, without capitalists, bankers or even a standing army. 150 years on, this book remains a priceless resource for the workers of the world. Watch Jules Legendre, from Révolution – the French section of the International Marxist Tendency – introduce the topic at our book launch on 18 March 2021 and explain the lessons that revolutionaries must draw for today.