The Life of R. H. Tawney : Socialism and History
Author(s): Lawrence Goldman
R. H. Tawney was the most influential theorist and exponent of socialism in Britain in the 20th century and also a leading historian. Based on papers deposited at the London School of Economics including a collection of personal material previously held by his family, this book provides the first detailed biography. Lawrence Goldman shows that to understand Tawney's work it is necessary to understand his life.
This biography takes a broadly chronological approach, and uses this framework to examine major themes, including Tawney's political thought and historical writings. Tawney was the most representative of Labour's intellectuals as well as the most influential, and the contradictions he embodied are evident in the general history of British socialism.
Review(s):
“While highlighting Tawney’s inspiring achievements for education in the United Kingdom, the author mercifully avoids a tired overglorification and/or -simplification of the man, which biographers are prone to make, and instead strikes a reasonable balance by conceding a number of Tawney’s human shortcomings and contradictions … Goldman ultimately succeeds in his goal to bring a fresh, rich, and more in-depth analysis of Tawney’s life and work.” - Adult Education Quarterly
ISBN: 9781780937045