The Age of Asa ― Lord Briggs, Public Life and History in Britain Since 1945

Asa Briggs has been a prominent figure in post-war cultural life. He has been a pioneering historian, a farsighted educational reformer, and a sensitive chronicler of the way in which broadcasting and communication more generally have shaped modern society. He has also been a devoted servant of the public good, involved in many inquiries, boards and trusts. Yet few accounts of public life in Britain since the Second World War include a discussion or appreciation of his influential role. This collection of essays provides the first critical assessment of Asa Briggs' career, using fresh research and new perspectives to analyse his contribution and impact on scholarship, the expansion of higher education at home and overseas, and his support and leadership for the arts and media more generally.

Miles Taylor is Professor of Modern History at the University of York, UK. Between 2008 and 2014 he was Director of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, UK. His recent books include The Victorian Empire and Britain's Maritime World, 1837-1901: The Sea and Global History (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). He is currently completing a study of Queen Victoria and India.