A wonderfully engaging and entertaining history of the great dons of the last two hundred years, by one of our leading historians of ideas.
Rich in anecdote, and displaying all the author’s customary mastery of his subject, The Dons is Noel Annan at his erudite, encyclopedic and entertaining best.
The book is a kaleidoscope of wonderful vignettes illustrating the brilliance and eccentricities of some of the greatest figures of British university life. Here is Buckland dropping to his knees to lick the supposed patch of martyr’s blood in an Italian cathedral and remarking, ‘I can tell you what it is; it’s bat’s urine.’ Or the granitic Master of Balliol, A.D. Lindsay, whose riposte on finding himself in a minority of one at a College meeting was, ‘I see we are deadlocked’.
But, entertaining as it is, The Dons also has a more serious purpose. No other book has ever explained so precisely – and so amusingly – why the dons matter, and the importance of the role they have played in the shaping of British higher education over the past two centuries.
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From the reviews of Our Age:
‘A tour de force; a major intellectual achievement by a man who has been a fine exemplar of the civilisation he portrays’
Roy Jenkins
‘The panoramic scope is such as to make one wonder that one man could know so much about so much’
Frank Kermode
‘A stupendous achievement’
Raymond Carr
From the reviews of Changing Enemies:
‘Compact, critical, stimulating... obligatory reading for all contemporary historians’
Asa Briggs, Financial Times Books of the Year
‘A superb book... stylish, witty and intensely interesting’
Charles Chenevix Trench, Irish Independent
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Book Description Condition: Good. Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included. Seller Inventory # P03C-01664
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. The Dons: Mentors, Eccentrics and Geniuses This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780002570749
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780002570749