A Man of Contradictions

<p>He proclaimed himself a genius and raged against the slightest criticism from fellow scholars; he was a Marxist who despised the ''Idiot People''; he could be generous and affectionate yet hurled insults at his friends; he inveighed against Puritanism but was himself in many ways a Puritan: A. L. Rowse was a man of many contradictions.<br><br> In this clear-sighted and absorbing biography, Richard Ollard examines the many sides of Rowse''s Protean personality to reveal a man who, whatever he was responding to - public affairs, the arts, natural beauty or events in his personal life - did so with tremendous energy and passion.<br><br> ''An urbane study of the celebrated historian.'' Antonia Fraser, <i>Daily Mail</i><br><br> ''Strikes a perfect balance between the Jekyll Rowse and the Hyde Rowse.'' Bevis Hillier, <i>Spectator</i><br><br> ''Excellent.'' Katherine Duncan-Jones, <i>TLS</i></p>