History in the House: Some Remarkable Dons and the Teaching of Politics, Character and Statecraft

Thomas Wolsey founded Cardinal's College in Oxford, which Henry VIII later re-established as Christ Church. It provided a rich and imposing education for young men of Tudor England, shaping their intellects and world perspectives. Richard Davenport-Hines examines the intimate connections between British politics, statecraft, and the Oxford University history course, focusing on a select group of dons who taught modern history at Christ Church. These dons explored the wielding of power, the art of persuasion, and civil and political responsibility, studying the crimes, follies, misfortunes, incapacity, muddle, and disloyalty of humankind in every generation. History in the House offers an unforgettable portrait of these men, their enduring influence, and the significance of their arguments to public life today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Five hundred years ago, Thomas Wolsey founded Cardinal's College in Oxford, which was later re-established by Henry VIII as Christ Church. This institution was renowned for its richness, spaciousness, and imposing nature, surpassing any other in its time. It aimed to provide young men of Tudor England and beyond with an opportunity to study history, enhance their minds, expand their imaginations, and broaden their experiences for the benefit of the realm. Under the guidance of remarkable dons, students were taught to "spot the bunk" and understand the reasons for the success or failure of states. Richard Davenport-Hines, a renowned historian, delves into the intimate connections between British politics, statecraft, and the Oxford University history course in his book. He explores the temperaments, ideas, imagination, prejudices, intentions, and influence of a select group of men who taught modern history at Christ Church. These dons, including Frederick York Powell, Arthur Hassall, Keith Feiling, J. C. Masterman, Roy Harrod, Patrick Gordon Walker, Hugh Trevor-Roper, and Robert Blake, represented a diverse range of political perspectives, from Victorian radicalism to Protestant settlement legitimism, Toryism, Whiggism, Keynesianism, socialism, rationalism, and realpolitik. Through their challenging and sometimes contradictory opinions, these dons explored the wielding of power, the art of persuasion, and the exercise of civil and political rights.

Weight: 698g
Dimension: 243 x 166 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008285722