Alan John Percival Taylor, FBA (25 March 1906 – 7 September 1990) was a renowned English historian of the 20th century.
Taylor was born in Birkdale, near Southport, of Scottish descent and was brought up in Lancashire. He was educated at various Quaker schools and Bootham School in York. As a student he was described by his headmasters to be brilliant and rebellious. Initially he had an interest in archaeology, and as a young man he was an amateu...
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Alan John Percival Taylor, FBA (25 March 1906 – 7 September 1990) was a renowned English historian of the 20th century.
Taylor was born in Birkdale, near Southport, of Scottish descent and was brought up in Lancashire. He was educated at various Quaker schools and Bootham School in York. As a student he was described by his headmasters to be brilliant and rebellious. Initially he had an interest in archaeology, and as a young man he was an amateur expert in the history and archaeology of churches in northern England. His interest in archaeology led to a strong interest in history. In 1924, he went to Oriel College, Oxford to study modern history. His wealthy parents held strongly left-wing views, which he inherited. His parents were both pacifists who vocally opposed World War I, and sent their son to Quaker schools as a way of protesting against the war.
In the 1920s, Taylor's mother, Constance, was a member of the Comintern and one of his uncles a founding member of the Communist...
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