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.

[@jajones-ford2226]

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

[@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.

[@hayleyanna2625]

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

[@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!

[@jakebutler6473]

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

[@kanavsharma2609]

Can u mentioned them.

[@markhayward7400]

AJP Taylor was one of TV's great talking heads. I became interested in history and went on to study it at university because of him

[@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.

[@zoeward78]

How wonderful!!!!

[@jasongray4517]

Along with Trevor-Roper, one of the great English prose stylists, particularly in essay form.

[@analogeit]

Anyone know any similar vids to this?

[@geekpie100]

I think I will have to try and read Erewhon.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

As for intelligence, you can tell by Taylor’s hairdo that he was a great believer in polity and understanding.

[@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.