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Angus Lindsay Ritchie Calder

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Angus Lindsay Ritchie Calder

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1942-02-05 （London, England）
Died
2008-06-05 （Edinburgh, Scotland） age 66
Nationality
British
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
historian, writer, poet, academic
Active Years
1964-2008
Affiliations
Open University, University of Sussex (collaborated on Mass-Observation Archive)
Influenced By
Paul Addison, Asa Briggs, Ritchie Calder (father)
Influenced
David Hare, Gordon Brown, Scholars of Scottish literature and writers of popular history

Education

King's College, Cambridge
English literature
Period: 1960s
Country: United Kingdom
Studied English literature (undergraduate)
University of Sussex
History
Degree: PhD
Period: 1960s
Year of Graduation: 1968
Country: United Kingdom
PhD on politics in the United Kingdom during World War II

Awards

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
1969
Work: The People's War: Britain, 1939–45
Organization: John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (organization)
Result: 受賞
Eric Gregory Award
1967
Organization: Society of Authors (award body)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The People's War: Britain, 1939–45

1969 history / social history

A landmark popular history examining British society and politics during World War II; critically challenged enduring propaganda myths and discussed mass mobilization and changes in public life.

World War IIsocial historypropaganda and memory

The Myth of the Blitz

1991 historical study

A reassessment of earlier conclusions, critically examining popular perceptions and collective memory of the Blitz that Calder had helped popularize.

memory studieswartime propagandacritique of collective memory

Sun Behind the Castle: Edinburgh Poems

2004 poetry

A collection of poems themed around Edinburgh, containing poetic observations and reflections on local memory.

Edinburghmemorypersonal and public history

Bibliography

  • The People's War: Britain, 1939–45, 1969
  • Scott (with Jenni Calder), 1969
  • Russia Discovered: Nineteenth Century Fiction from Pushkin to Chekhov, 1976
  • Revolutionary Empire, 1981
  • The Myth of the Blitz, 1991
  • Revolving Culture, 1994
  • Sun Behind the Castle (poetry), 2004, among others

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, interdisciplinary prosecritically reflective and explanatory tone
Recurring Motifs
war and civilian lifememory and propagandaScottish identity

Health

  • lung cancer
    2008
    Died of lung cancer in 2008. The illness affected his later writing and activity and led to his death.

Legacy

Calder left a wide legacy: his popular history The People's War influenced public understandings of World War II; he helped establish the Mass-Observation Archive and played a key role in founding the Scottish Poetry Library. His work continues to shape debates on war memory and national identity.

Archives

  • Mass-Observation Archive at the University of Sussex (collaborated on development)

In Popular Culture

  • The People's War is said to have influenced films, television, theatre and other books

Quotes

  • In order to wage the war, Angus argued, the prewar ruling class had been compelled to mobilize the people. ... It became the People's War.
    Source: Paul Addison, History Workshop Journal (obituary/essay) (2010)

Trivia

  • Father was journalist and science writer Ritchie Calder (Peter Ritchie Calder).
  • Brother Nigel Calder; nephew Simon Calder is a travel writer.
  • Won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for The People's War (1969).
  • Won an Eric Gregory Award for poetry (1967).
  • Instrumental in creating the Mass-Observation Archive at the University of Sussex (1970).
  • Helped found the Scottish Poetry Library and served as its first convener (1984).