‘Probably the most controversial, and certainly the best known, historian in the English-

speaking world. In his prime A.J.P. Taylor attracted- and usually bewitched- a wider following

than Macaulay ever dreamt of. Prolific and best selling author, gifted journalist, and sui

generis as a television star, he attempted to transform the historical understanding of his day’

(The Times Obituary 1990)

Born in 1906 to a liberal family and then studied at Oxford

Produced 23 books, hundreds of essays, broadcasts and newspaper articles, and over 1,500 reviews

Wrote about The First World War, The Cold War, the Second World War, the War Lords and the Course of German History

HIS REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO HISTORY

‘His book (The First World War) will immediately be popular with readers averse to

detailed military history’ (Listener)

Despite his motivations, he made history accessible to the masses

Writing style therefore accounted for this

Gave TV lectures, radio broadcasts and appeared in the newspapers

‘His informal, pithy style makes the book (The War Lords) compelling-even exciting

reading’ (David Charles, the Irish Times)

AFFECT ON OUR APPROACH TO HISTORY

Revolutionised the accepted approach to history by bringing it into the public arena

Pioneered a new way to reach the masses

Paved the way for the expected role of modern historians

‘These days, we expect historians to be public commentators as well as

university-based academics’ (Professor David Cannadine)

SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS APPROACH

His approach opposed that of the traditional Oxford historians

It contradicted their approach to history and made it more accessible

It ironically contradicted the conservative approach of the BBC which was the platform for much of his success

It forecasted the way history would be presented in the future

‘Taylor was the radical Nonconformist from Manchester whose genius paved his way to

Oxford and a lifelong fight with the southern intellectual and cultural establishment’

(Tristram Hunt)

HIS RADICAL VIEWS

‘The generals were overwhelmed… (they) fumbled more or less helplessly’

(A.J.P. Taylor, Preface to The First World War)

Blamed the Generals almost entirely for the many failures during WW1

Questioned Hitler as the cause of WW2: ‘Hitler was no more wicked than many a contemporary statesman’

Member of the Communist Party 1924-1926 and took a pro-Soviet stance in the Cold War

AFFECT ON OUR VIEWS

He says ‘almost anything that is important for an understanding and, indeed,

intellectual digestion of that vast event (The First World War)’ (Observer)

Due to his approach he had mass appeal for the gifted delivery of his views

Opened the boundaries of thought due to the radical nature of his views

His views provide the base for modern historical learning, although not always agreed with

SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS VIEWS

His liberal views were significant as they contradicted traditional thinking

He broke the mould from conservative, Oxford styled historians

Introducing new ideas opened up debate by creating opposition in thought

‘The most readable, sceptical and original of modern historians…The whole book (The

Origins of The Second World War) convinces as much as it startles’

(Michael Foot in Tribune)

ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST HE WAS INSIGNIFICANT?

Hugh Trevor Roper: “I’m afraid that your book The Origins of The Second World War

may damage your reputation as a historian”. A.J.P. Taylor: “Your criticism of me would

damage your reputation as a historian, if you had one.”

Challenged by Trevor-Roper whose work debatably has more lasting credibility

A.J.P Taylor’s ‘standing seems in irretrievable decline’ (Professor David Cannadine) after his death

His views could be considered outdated and unrealistic

SO HOW SIGNIFICANT IS HE REALLY?

Despite his work not being unanimously agreed with today, he still dominated his generation

His work still provides a useful base from which to build an understanding of the periods he covered

He revolutionised the common approach to history which is still used today by people such as David Starkey and Adam Hart-Davis

He was the pioneer in making history accessible to the masses

He is arguably the best known and most popular historian of the twentieth century

He therefore shaped the understanding of the masses, he shapes the understanding of modern day students, he provides a base for the study of modern historians and he changed the way they approach history.