A Man of Contradictions

A. L. Rowse proclaimed himself a genius and raged against the slightest criticism from fellow scholars; he was a Marxist who despised the ‘Idiot People’; he could be generous and affectionate yet hurled insults at his friends; he inveighed against Puritanism but was himself in many ways a Puritan.

In this clear-sighted and absorbing biography, Richard Ollard examines the many sides of Rowse’s Protean personality to reveal a man who, whatever he was responding to–public affairs, the arts, natural beauty or events in his personal life–did so with tremendous energy and passion.


“An urbane study of the celebrated historian.” -Antonia Fraser, Daily Mail

“Strikes a perfect balance between the Jekyll Rowse and the Hyde Rowse.” -Bevis Hillier, Spectator

“Excellent.” -Katherine Duncan-Jones, TLS