This book is a collection of essays and reviews on the first century of the communist party in Britain. Tracing the Communist Party's evolution from its foundation in 1920 by an amalgamation of different socialist groups, through periods of growth, crisis, decline and re-establishment. The book offers critical reflections on other historical reviews of the Communist Party of Great Britain. Robert Griffiths also offers some personal sketches of important yet often overlooked individual communists.

Two main chapters cover the history of the party chronologically and thematically. There are also important sections on the party's anti-imperialist positions and its discussions on the Scottish and Welsh national questions. Other essays deal with relations between the Communist Party and Labour Party, work in the trade union and solidarity movements.

The author is general secretary of the Communist party of Britain.