Eric Hobsbawm
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Eric Hobsbawm was a British historian (1917–2012) who wrote influential works on European history and applied Marxist ideas to the study of the past. He matters because his books shaped how scholars and educated readers understand major historical periods and social movements, though his work has remained controversial due to his Marxist perspective.
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Eric John Ernest Hobsbawm (9 June 1917 – 1 October 2012) was a British Marxist historian of the rise of industrial capitalism, socialism, and nationalism. His best-known works include his trilogy about the long 19th century (The Age of Revolution: Europe 1789–1848, The Age of Capital: 1848–1875; The Age of Empire: 1875–1914), The Age of Extremes on the short 20th century, and an edited volume which introduced the influential idea of "invented traditions". <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Eric+
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Eric John Ernest Hobsbawm (/ˈhɒbz.bɔːm/; 9 June 1917 – 1 October 2012) was a British historian of the rise of industrial capitalism, socialism and nationalism. His best-known works include his tetralogy about what he called the "long 19th century" (The Age of Revolution: Europe 1789–1848, The Age of Capital: 1848–1875 and The Age of Empire: 1875–1914) and the "short 20th century" (The Age of Extremes), and an edited volume that introduced the influential idea of "invented traditions". He was a life-long Marxist, and his socio-political convictions influenced the character of his work.
Hobsbawm was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and spent his childhood mainly in Vienna and Berlin. Following the death of his parents and the rise to power of Adolf Hitler, Hobsbawm moved to London with his adoptive family. After serving in the Second World War, he obtained his PhD in history at the University of Cambridge. In 1998, he was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour. He was president of Birkbeck, University of London, from 2002 until his death. In 2003, he received the Balzan Prize for European History since 1900, "for his brilliant analysis of the troubled history of 20th century Europe and for his ability to combine in-depth historical research with great literary talent."
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1917 births2012 deaths20th-century British historians20th-century British male writers21st-century British historians21st-century British male writersAcademics of Birkbeck, University of LondonAlumni of King's College, CambridgeBritish anti-capitalistsBritish anti-fascistsBritish Army personnel of World War IIBritish Marxist historians