This Penguin edition of Clausewitzfootnote1 contains Books I, II and III of Vom Kriege complete, all but one chapter of Book IV, and most of the incomplete Book VIII, i.e., well under half of the original three volumes. The selection is introduced by a 70-page essay on Clausewitz’s book by Anatol Rapoport, supposedly ‘assessing its significance for its contemporaries, its effect on succeeding generations, and its relevance today’ (the aim of the Pelican Classics series, as outlined on the back cover).footnote2 It is this essay that I want to discuss, though the importance of Clausewitz’s book will emerge from my argument, which I hope will persuade revolutionary socialists to read all of On War rather than any of the many selected versions now on the market.