Eric Hobsbawm - Historian - Has Died

[C. Flower]

Hobsbawm's death today will lead to a lot of discussion of his work.

A socialist historian, with severe limitations to his analysis and methodology, imo, he has still exerted a lot of influence.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0IeOGQElXw&feature=related"]Eric Hobsbawm discusses 'How to Change the World' | Socialist History Society | 25 Feb 2011 - YouTube[/ame]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012...-95?CMP=twt_fd

[Iolo]

I agree about the limitations, and I didn't care for his joining the colonialists up in Gwynedd, but yes, interesting and useful.

[Summerday Sands]

A very great Historian, who's books will continue to enjoyed.

Here's an interesting talk he gave on the Russian Revolution & the Soviet Union.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEGP4uhbF0"]Eric Hobsbawm - Can We Write the History of the Russian Revolution? - YouTube[/ame]

[Holly]

He spent his boyhood in Vienna and Berlin but, being Jewish, when the Nazis took control, he had to pick up sticks and go to stay with relatives in London.
For most of his life he was a mouthpiece for the Communist Party but he quit his membership in 1986.

His mother, sister Nancy, cousin Peter (centre) and Eric Hobsbawm outside an alpine TB sanatorium in Austria in 1930