Beautifully written and as provocative as ever, taylors book is a classic not only on the history of the origins of the second world war but also on how to actually write a readable history book. In this clear, lively and nowclassic account of the first world war, he tells the story of the conflict from the german advance in the west, through the marne, gallipoli, the balkans and the war at sea to the offensives of 1918 and the state of europe after the war. The second world war was vaguer still in its opening. Taylor, a reprint of his influential text the origins of the second world war.
Taylors numerous publications eventually hits the hazard of his most controversial work, the origins of the second world war, published in 1961. Taylor presents the thesis that the responsibility for the coming of the second world war rests not at all on the soviet union, very little on hitler, and very much on britain, with france as a reluctant accomplice. Taylors the origins of the second world war written between 195761 proved to be vastly controversial. Origins of the second world war reconsidered taylor. It was a classic exercise in the revisionism that is central to the historical discipline and, after its publication, the study of the diplomatic history of the 1930s would never be the same again. Ajp taylor the origins of the second world war english history, 19141945 1965, represents taylors successful move towards the history of his native land, as it. Taylor was one of the very best historians of the 20th century. The war which began on september 3, 1939 between britainfrance and germany was largely a result of diplomatic blunders, miscalculations, and mistakes rather than as a result of a conscious decision for war against the west on the part of hitler. It has also the corollary merit, in passing, of providing important ammunition for. Taylor challenges the official version of the causes for world war ii. Few books have so shocked received opinion and been as influential as a.
Buy the origins of the second world war new ed by taylor, professor a j p isbn. As a professional historian,taylor wrote numerous books, many of which were insightful and broke new ground as far as historical interpretations went. Taylor, however, we have in his newly published book, the origins of the second world war, an interpretation which frankly aims at challenging what he calls the almost universal agreement among historians that hitler planned the second world war and that his will. The origins of the second world war is a nonfiction book by the english historian a. Taylor, adolf hitler, and the origins of the second world war normanj. Radical historian of europe by tristram hunt in the guardian. Taylors origins of the second world war has some fascinating insights. Taylor is british historian who specialized in 20th century diplomacy, and in his book claims that as a historian his job is to. Taylor comes the audio edition of the origins of the second world war. Taylor, the origins of the second world war new york. The scope for a cataclysm by accident with uncomfortable echoes during the cold war, and korea today was obvious. The style is a bit dated copy write was in 1961, but a. Review of the origins of the second world war mises.
One of the most popular and controversial historians of the twentieth century, who made his subject accessible to millions, a. Taylor, adolf hitler, and the origins of the second world war. Origins of the second world war reconsidered 2nd edition. Or rather these two events accepted the division of the world in a way that even the partition of germany had not done. Taylor british historian and journalist britannica. He was the only outstanding military figure on either side who came to a violent end. Taylor, alan john percivale taylor, was born in march, 1906, at birkdale, lancashire, england into a politically liberal family that enjoyed a definite affluence through involvements in the cotton industry. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration. Taylors the origins of the second world war is a great work, a memorable and pathbreaking work, of enormous importance in providing, at last, a revisionist history of the causes of 1939.
Following a conversation with the overall editor of the oxford history of modern europe taylor was accepted as the author of yet another volume in the series this time on english history 19141945. This landmark study focuses on events leading to the declaration of war on germany by great britain and france. This second edition will ensure that the origins of the second world war will remain a high priority student and scholarly reading lists. After the publication in 1961 of his bestknown book, the origins of the second world war, mr. Taylors popularity as a broadcaster brought him into legendary television debates with the likes of hugh trevorroper and many other historians, this subject being one of the more heated. Taylors the origins of the second world war, published fortyfive years ago, have stood the test of time. It has also the corollary merit, in passing, of providing important ammunition for cold war book revisionism as well. An illustrated history, in the most detailed manner in war by timetable published in 1969, and finally in how wars begin published in 1979, which was based on his series of television lectures held. Ajp taylor and the russians the treatment of the crises leading up to war including the anschluss, danzig, abysinnian crises and the spanish civil war. Alan john percivale taylor, the only son of percy lees taylor, a cotton merchant, and his wife, constance sumner thompson, a schoolmistress, was born at birkdale on 25th march, 1906. These friendships helped to enhance his understanding of the region.
During the second world war, taylor served in the home guard and befriended emigre statesmen from eastern europe, such as the former hungarian president count mihaly karolyi and czechoslovak president edvard benes. Taylors publication of the origins of the second world war provoked controversy on its release in 1961 and gained taylor a reputation as a revisionist. P taylors book, the origins of the second world war has been at the heart of controversy because of his unorthodox treatment of hitlers contribution to the outbreak of war. Taylors bestselling the origins of the second world war overturns popular myths about the outbreak of war one of the most popular and controversial historians of the twentieth century, who made his subject accessible to millions, a. In the book taylor argued against the widespread belief that the outbreak of the second world war. The origins of the second world war audiobook by a. The origins of the second world war by a j p taylor.
Taylor was sharply, unsparingly attacked by another distinguished british historian, hugh. Origins of second world war weatherhead center for. His parents were supporters of the labour party and he grew up with leftwing views taylor was educated at bootham school in york and oriel college. Taylor, in full alan john percivale taylor, born march 25, 1906, birkdale, lancashire, eng. Taylor revisionism the origins of the second world war a. In 1939, before hitler invaded poland, both the britishfrench and the germans were seeking alliances or nonaggression pacts with the soviet union. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the origins of the second world war study guide and get instant access to the following analysis. Sullivan 178 11 the spanish civil war and the origins of the second world war mary habeck 204 12 the phantom crisis. The prose simply flows from beginning to end as this masterful historian questions many of the arguments that were considered settled until this book. Taylors bestselling the origins of the second world war overturns popular myths about the outbreak of war. It was at this point surely that the cold war really set in.
The origins of the second world war reflections on three approaches to the problem. That series had been preceded in 1963 by ajp taylors rather vulgar book, the first world war. Taylor 1961 contents preface for the american reader second thoughts i forgotten problem ii the legacy of the first world war iii the postwar decade iv the end of versailles v the abyssinian affair and the end of locarno vi the halfarmed peace, 193638. Ajp taylor the origins of the second world war youtube. Taylor was one of the most acclaimed and uncompromising historians of the twentieth century. Hitler, stresemann and the discontinuity of german foreign policy. Origins of the second world war 1 the origins of the second w orld w ar a. Taylor, proposes and investigates unconventional and widely unaccepted theories as to the underlying causes of world war two. Controversial for its thesis that hitler was an opportunist with no thorough plan, the origins of the second world war is an extensive exploration of the international politics and foreign policy that led up to the one of the.
The end of british policy on a grand scale came with the truman doctrine and the marshall plan, both welcomed by bevin but a retreat from independence all the same. Taylor explained his theory first in his work published in 1963 and translated into hungarian in 1988 entitled the first world war. The origins of the second world war by a j p taylor penguin. Controversial for his thesis that hitler was an opportunist with no thorough plan, the origins of the second world war is an extensive exploration of the international politics and foreign policy that lead up to the one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century. Knowledge breeds doubt, not certainty, and the more we know the more uncertain we become.