A. J. P. Taylor interview | Historian | Mavis on Morals | 1979

British Historian A. J. P. Taylor speaks to Mavis Nicholson about his life and beliefs.
Recorded: 15/01/1979
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Quote: 20509

[@ysgol3]

Only Mavis could have conducted an interview as brilliant and fascinating as this - wonderful.

[@hayleyanna2625]

Another delightful insightful interview conducted by the wonderful Mavis. Very interesting.

[@ajpt4336]

There is a proverb that says: History is written by the victors, but the historian A.J.P. Taylor did not adopt the traditional method of writing history. Rather, he adopted the analytical and neutral method in writing the historical events, relying on a large number of various sources in order for the reader to understand those events more clearly.

[@channelfogg6629]

'There is a proverb that says: History is written by the victors...' - which is of course completely absurd. History is written by historians. I have read histories of WW1 and WW2 written by Germans, histories of the Spanish Civil War written by historiasnw who opposed Franco, and so on. Only the ignorant repeat that saying.

[@jajones-ford2226]

Such a very interesting conversation with British historian A.J.P. Taylor.

[@jakebutler6473]

In 25 minutes I've discovered 6 books written by 4 different men that I obviously must read.

[@kanavsharma2609]

Can u mentioned them.

[@simontaylor2319]

Just started re-reading his autobiography, I bought years ago. a real pleasure. He had a v good memory, claiming he could recount every holiday he had ever been on since 1908, with dates & places! I don't think we are related, though we share the same name!

[@robertewing3114]

My book, Butterfly in the Well, has a little tribute to this wonderfully imaginative and witty writer, it is called AJP tailored. Other interpretations, Archibald James Potter, Abraham John Pilkington. Taylor defined historical writing better than anyone has, which is his most important contribution to the field of history, write history like him and you write something worth reading.

[@geekpie100]

I think I will have to try and read Erewhon.

[@mrnarason]

interesting

[@petermorningsnow]

O yes! Well he is a terribly tiny person, and so one assumes he is forced to be vain by Darwin's Law of survival of the whatever the thing that makes you survive long on is in Darwin.

[@ajs41]

Vain? The point is he's a great historian.