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Historian Eric Hobsbawm passes away.

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  • 01-10-2012 1:59pm
    #1
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,665 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    As per BBC site:
    "
    Eric Hobsbawm, one of Britain's most eminent historians, has died at the age of 95, his family have confirmed.

    Mr Hobsbawm, a historian in the Marxist tradition, wrote more than 30 books.

    His reputation rests largely on four works, including History of the 20th Century, The Age of Extremes, which has been translated into 40 languages
    "


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    #2
    markesmith
    Registered Users Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭markesmith


    Excellent articles in today's Guardian, OP.

    Probably the only historian that translated a Marxist outlook on history into global appreciation. His "Age of..." books are epic reading.


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    #3
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users Posts: 23,974 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    A N Wilson in a scathing Daily Mail article doesn't seem to like him too much, if at all.


    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211961/Eric-Hobsbawm-He-hated-Britain-excused-Stalins-genocide-But-traitor-too.html
    He hated Britain and excused Stalin's genocide. But was hero of the BBC and the Guardian, Eric Hobsbawm a TRAITOR too?
    • Historian defended the Soviet killing of millions in the name of Communism
    • When he was at Cambridge in the 1930s he knew Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess and other Soviet agents, who were recruited by Marxists
    • Four years before his death said he wanted to see MI5 files on him to find out who had 'snitched on him


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    #4
    Gee Bag
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,541 ✭✭✭Gee Bag


    ejmaztec wrote: »
    A N Wilson in a scathing Daily Mail article doesn't seem to like him too much, if at all.


    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211961/Eric-Hobsbawm-He-hated-Britain-excused-Stalins-genocide-But-traitor-too.html

    I thought Hobsbawm's faith in communism was a bit much especially after the fall of the Iron curtain, that said he was a brilliant historian and writer. Whatever about his political views he is one of the giants of European history. His books are on almost every undergrad history course and are still stocked in most decent sized book shops. The claim that only 1 in 10,000 people knew who Hobsbawm was is just nonsense.

    The hacthet job in the daily mail was by non-other than AN Wilson. He's an avowed little Englander who consistently writes opinion pieces that set out to cause controversy (that said, he can be entertaining). His previous claim to fame was accusing David Attenborough of throwing baby penguins to sea lions so it could be filmed for TV! He settled out of court.


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