The Life and World of Francis Rodd, Lord Rennell (1895-1978): Geography, Money and War

This book is a biographical study of Francis Rodd, the second Lord Rennell of Rodd, who connected the worlds of geography, international finance, politics, espionage, and wartime military administration. He was famous in the 1920s for his journeys to the Sahara and his study of the Tuareg.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2022
Publisher: Anthem Press

This book is a comprehensive biographical exploration of the remarkable life of Francis Rodd, the second Lord Rennell of Rodd (1895-1978). Rodd's life is a captivating tapestry that weaves together the realms of geography, international finance, politics, espionage, and wartime military administration, creating a rich and intricate narrative. He gained fame in the 1920s for his daring expeditions to the Sahara, where he delved deep into the study of the Tuareg, People of the Veil (1926). His career in banking saw him hold positions at the Bank of England and later become a Partner at the prestigious merchant bank Morgan Grenfell, where he spent the majority of his professional life (1933-1961). During World War II, Rodd served in various capacities, including his role as the War Office's Chief Political Officer in East Africa and his subsequent appointment as the head of the first Allied Military Government in occupied Europe (Chief Civil Affairs Officer of AMGOT). It was in the field of civil affairs that Rodd found his true calling, being drawn to the principles of indirect rule. As a generalist in a time of increasing specialization, he possessed a unique blend of traditionalist and modernist perspectives. Hailing from a privileged background, with education at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, Rodd was socially well-connected and his life provides a fascinating window into British society during a period of profound transformation.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 153 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839985621