A Man of Contradictions

He 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: A. L. Rowse was a man of many contradictions. 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 . Language: English