A subdivision of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), from 1946-1956 the Communist Party Historians Group formed a highly influential cluster of British Marxist historians, who contributed to "history from below." Famous members included such leading lights of 20th-century British history as Christopher Hill, Eric Hobsbawm, Raphael Samuel and E.P. Thompson, as well as important non-academics like A. L. Morton and Brian Pearce.
In keeping with their standing positions, many of the members carried out their projects from adult education institutions, rather than the academy. In 1952 several of the members founded the influential social history journal Past and Present.
Read more about Communist Party Historians Group: Aims and Methods, 1956 and After, Socialist History Society, Notable Members
Famous quotes containing the words communist, party, historians and/or group:
“The terrible thing is that one cannot be a Communist and not let oneself in for the shameful act of recantation. One cannot be a Communist and preserve an iota of ones personal integrity.”
—Milovan Djilas (b. 1911)
“Last night, party at Lansdowne-House. Tonight, party at Lady Charlotte Grevillesdeplorable waste of time, and something of temper. Nothing impartednothing acquiredtalking without ideasif any thing like thought in my mind, it was not on the subjects on which we were gabbling. Heigho!and in this way half London pass what is called life.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (17881824)
“Nations without a past are contradictions in terms. What makes a nation is the past, what justifies one nation against others is the past, and historians are the people who produce it.”
—Eric J. Hobsbawm (b. 1917)
“The government of the United States at present is a foster-child of the special interests. It is not allowed to have a voice of its own. It is told at every move, Dont do that, You will interfere with our prosperity. And when we ask: where is our prosperity lodged? a certain group of gentlemen say, With us.”
—Woodrow Wilson (18561924)