We are history - lecture
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:50:00 GMT
WRITING the history of distant centuries can pose obvious problems. But what are the special challenges of writing the history of your own life and times?
Peter Hennessy (pictured) – now Lord Hennessy – is acknowledged as a leading historian of life, society and politics in late-twentieth century Britain. Thousands of his readers might have recollections of the events and people – such as Huddersfield-born premier Harold Wilson – that he writes about. But Lord Hennessy drills deep beneath the headlines.
The author of several top-selling books, he is in Huddersfield on Thursday 9 February for a free public lecture entitled “Writing the history of one’s own time”. It will offer some fascinating insights into the politics and culture of post-war Britain.
Lord Hennessy is currently the Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London and Director of the Mile End Institute of Contemporary British Government, Intelligence and Society. His books include “Having It So Good: Britain in the Fifties” and“Never Again: Britain 1945-1951”. He is also the author of “The Secret State: Whitehall and the Cold War” and “The Prime Minister: The Office and Its Holders Since 1945”.
Admirers include TV presenter and political expert Andrew Marr, who has written that “Peter Hennessy has become the irreplaceable analyst of the inner core of the British system of government”.
And one of the most prominent of post-war Labour politicians, Roy Hattersley, commented that Peter Hennessy’s book of Fifties Britain was “a joy to read”.
Lord Hattersley himself heads to the University of Huddersfield on Thursday, 8 March for a free public lecture and discussion session.
The Peter Hennessy talk on 9 February is at 7pm in the University’s Canalside West lecture theatre, preceded by a 6.30 reception. The event is free and open to all but places should be reserved by contacting 01484 472606 or course.assistant.history@hud.ac.uk.
The event is chaired by Professor John Shepherd, a leading labour historian, and organised by the University’s Academy for British and Irish Studies, in tandem with the West Yorkshire branch of the Historical Association.
