The revolutionary leader who authored "The Communist Manifesto" is Karl Marx. Co-written with Friedrich Engels and published in 1848, the manifesto outlines the principles of communism and critiques capitalist society. It calls for the working class, or proletariat, to rise against the bourgeoisie, advocating for a classless society. This work played a crucial role in inspiring socialist movements worldwide and sparked significant political and economic discussions. Marx's theories continue to influence contemporary thought on class struggle, economics, and social justice.