ABSTRACT
In 1935 Sidney and Beatrice Webb published an enormous book entitled Soviet Communism: A New Civilisation?. When the second edition appeared two years later they removed the interrogation mark. In private, the Webbs - who were childless - referred to this work as their 'last and biggest baby'. In public, they described it as an act of 'supererogation' a theological expression meaning a service performed beyond the call of duty: something fit to be ignored or criticised, but not anything which might warrant blame.
