A.J.P. Taylor (1906-1990) was a twentieth-century English historian who achieved a large following beyond academia due to his being one of the first historians to embrace the medium of television. He specialised in 19th and 20th century diplomatic history, and was known for his often controversial and irreverent opinions which were expressed in a sparkling writing style. Taylor is chiefly remembered for his hugely controversial book
The Origins of the Second World War, as well as his contribution to The Oxford History of England series,
English History 1914-45.
Alan John Percival Taylor was born in Birkdale on 25 March 1906. His parents held fairly left-wing views, and he was educated at various Quaker schools. He went up to Oriel College to read history at Oxford in 1924, where he was
2052 words
Citation: Timmins, Adam . "A. J. P. Taylor". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 November 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4321, accessed 19 April 2024.]
