E. A. Thompson
E. A. Thompson | |
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Born | Edward Arthur Thompson 22 May 1914 Waterford, Ireland |
Died | 1 January 1994 Nottingham, England | (aged 79)
Nationality | British |
Spouses |
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Academic background | |
Education | King's College, London |
Main interests | |
Influenced |
Edward Arthur Thompson FBA (22 May 1914 – 1 January 1994) was an Irish-born British Marxist historian of classics and medieval studies. He was professor and director of the classics department at the University of Nottingham from 1948 to 1979, and a fellow of the British Academy. Thompson was a pioneer in the study of late antiquity, and was for decades the most prominent British scholar in this field. He was particularly interested in the relations between Ancient Rome and "barbarian" peoples such as the Huns and Visigoths, and has been credited with revitalizing English-language scholarship on the history of early Germanic peoples. Thompson's works on these subjects have been highly influential.
Early life
Edward Arthur Thompson was born on 22 May 1914 in the town of
From 1937 to 1938, Thompson was an
Early career
Thompson was appointed a lecturer in classics at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1939.[4] Although initially appointed for one year, Thompson's contract was renewed, and he stayed on (though at a reduced salary) until 1941.[6]
Already prepared to enter the
Career at the University of Nottingham
Thompson moved again in 1948 – this time to direct the classics department at the University of Nottingham, where he worked from 1948 to 1979.[4][9] During this time, Thompson was along with A. H. M. Jones a major figure in reviving the study of late antiquity in the United Kingdom.[7][5] He was considered the leading scholar in the United Kingdom in the field, with the University of Nottinhgham emerging as one of its principal centers of study.[4][8] At Nottingham, Thompson focused mainly on research and teaching rather than administrative work.[5] Distinguished members of his department at this time included Harold Mattingly, W. Charlmers, G. R. Watson, Mollie Whittaker, A. H. Sommerstein and J. W. Rich.[9]
In 1951, perhaps inspired by Farrington, Thompson published the book A Roman Reformer and Inventor, which examined the anonymous author of the De rebus bellicis. Thompson's book helped build the foundations for modern studies on this work.[10]
By the early 1950s, Thompson's research was increasingly focused on the early Germanic peoples. At this time, very little research had been carried out in this field in the English-speaking world. Thompson sought to approach the subject without ideological ballast.[10] Nevertheless, his revulsion towards Nazism probably influenced his research of this field.[11] His works were pioneering in the field of Germanic studies,[5] in which he was the leading scholar of his generation. He helped detach the field from the ideological bias which had characterized it in the past.[12]
Thompson published his work The Early Germans in 1965, which was largely concerned with the changing structure of Germanic society through its encounter with
Edward Thompson ... was the leading scholar of his generation on the history of the Germanic migrations ... His academic achievement was to apply modern historical analysis to the study of the Germanic tribes, escaping the influence of 19th-century romantic myths ...[12]
Until his retirement in 1979, Thompson served as the first Chairman of the Editorial Board of the scholarly journal Nottingham Medieval Studies, founded by Lewis Thorpe in 1957. Under Thompson's leadership, it rapidly emerged a major journal in its field.[16] Thompson was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1964 – the first University of Nottingham academic to be so honoured. On the death of A. H. M. Jones in 1970, Thompson was made Chairman of the academy's committee supervising the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire project.[16]
Later life
Thompson retired from the University of Nottingham in 1979. After his retirement Thompson spent a year at the
Politics
Thompson's revulsion towards Nazism, and his rejection of the strict Presbyterianism of his family, made him receptive towards
Thompson left the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1956, the year of the Soviet Union's intervention in Hungary. In later life he referred to himself as a Thompsonist rather than a Marxist.[5] His academic work continued to demonstrate a Marxist-oriented outlook on history. The class structure of societies continued to play a central role in his studies.[4] No longer playing an active part in politics, he maintained an enthusiastic interest.[9] He was strongly opposed to the Soviet handling of the Prague Spring, and criticised British policy in Northern Ireland, particularly sectarian violence.[5]
Personal life
While lecturing at King's College Thompson met his first wife Thelma Marjorie Phelps, a physician, whom he married in 1945.[5] They had a son and a daughter, but separated in 1958. In 1964 he married Hazel Joyce Casken, with whom he had a daughter and lived until his death.[5][9]
Works
- The Historical Work of Ammianus Marcellinus. Cambridge University Press. 1947.
- A History of Attila and the Huns. ISBN 9780837176406.
- A Roman Reformer and Inventor: Being a New Text of the Treatise De Rebus Bellicis. Clarendon Press. 1952.
- The Early Germans. ISBN 9780198142522.
- The Visigoths in the Time of Ulfila. ISBN 978-0-19-814254-6.
- The Goths in Spain. ISBN 9780198142713.
- Romans and Barbarians: The Decline of the Western Empire. ISBN 9780299087005.
- Saint Germanus of Auxerre and the End of Roman Britain. ISBN 9780851154053.
- Who Was Saint Patrick?. ISBN 9780851157177.
See also
References
Footnotes
- ^ Markus 2001, p. 679; Thompson 1988, p. 1.
- ^ Markus 2001, p. 679.
- ^ a b c d Markus 2001, p. 680.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Markus, R. A. (6 January 1994). "Obituary: Professor Edward Thompson". The Independent. London.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Todd 2004.
- ^ a b c Markus 2001, p. 681.
- ^ a b Markus 2001, p. 684.
- ^ a b c d "E. A. Thompson". The Times. London. 2 February 1994. p. 19. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Markus 2001, p. 682.
- ^ a b c Markus 2001, p. 686.
- ^ Markus 2001, pp. 680–681.
- ^ a b "Edward Thompson". The Guardian. London. 31 January 1994. p. Personal 13 (32).
- ^ a b Markus 2001, p. 687.
- ^ a b Markus 2001, p. 692.
- ^ Markus 2001, p. 691.
- ^ a b Markus 2001, p. 683.
- ^ Markus 2001, pp. 689–691.
Bibliography
- Markus, R. A. (2001). "Edward Arthur Thompson" (PDF). Proceedings of the British Academy. 111. Oxford University Press: 679–693. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- Thompson, Hazel (1988). "Edward Thompson". Nottingham Medieval Studies. 32: 1–5. ISSN 2507-0444.
- .
Further reading
- ISSN 2507-0444.
- ISSN 2507-0444.
- "Thompson, Prof. Edward Arthur". ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1. Retrieved 22 January 2020.