After graduating from London University at the age of 17, and then from Christ Church, Oxford, Theodore Zeldin helped to build up St Antony's College, Oxford as the university's postgraduate centre for international studies, and was its Dean for thirteen years.
His History of French Passions (originally published as France 1848-1945 Oxford History of Modern Europe by Oxford University Press, 1973 and 1977) won the Wolfson Prize, and was followed by the best-seller The French (Collins 1983), dealing with contemporary society. He has been called "the most popular Englishman in France" (Le Point) and is frequently invited to speak on French radio and television, and to French businesses and public authorities.
His book on Happiness (Harvill 1988, Picador paperback 1989), his Intimate History of Humanity (Sinclair Stevenson 1994 and Minerva paperback 1995) and his BBC lectures on Conversation (Harvill 1998) marked the expansion of his research to all civilisations. His writings have been translated into 24 languages.
His project on The Future of Work inaugurated his attempt to develop a new model for business.
Theodore Zeldin is President of the Oxford Muse Foundation, established in 2001 to develop his ideas, and to promote innovative ways of improving personal, professional and intercultural relations. He is a Patron of the National Academy of Writing and of the Oxford Food Symposium for the study of international gastronomy (of which he was the co-founder), a Member of the European Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He has been on the Management Committee of the Society of Authors, a visiting professor at Harvard and the University of Southern California, and has lectured in 15 countries.
The Independent on Sunday named him as one of the forty world figures whose ideas could have "a lasting relevance in the new millennium".
He is married to Deirdre Wilson, the co-inventor of the Theory of Relevance. They live in an Art Deco House outside Oxford. His hobbies are painting, gardening and mending things.
You can find out more information on Theodore Zeldin and the Oxford Muse Foundation by visiting his web site: www.theoxfordmuse.com
Bibliography:
Journal d'Emile Ollivier (2 vols. edited) Julliard Paris 1961
Emile Ollivier and the Liberal Empire OUP 1963
Political System of Napoleon III Macmillam 1957, Norton NY Paperback 1970
Conflicts in French Society (edited) Allen and Unwin 1970
France 1848-1945 Oxford History of Modern Europe Oxford University Press:
Vol 1 Ambition, Love and Politics (1973)
Vol 2 Intellect, Taste and Anxiety (1977)
Paperback editions in 5 volumes: Ambition and Love, Politics and Anger, Intellect and Pride, Taste and Corruption, Anxiety and Hypocrisy (1979)
Reissued as History of French Passions in 1993 by the Oxford University Press
The French Collins 1983,
Happiness Harvill 1988, Picador paperback 1989
An Intimate History of Humanity Sinclair Stevenson 1994 and Minerva paperback 1995
Conversation Harvill 1998
Guide to an Unknown City (edited) 2005 Oxford Muse
Guide to an Unknown University (edited), 2006 Oxford Muse
Translations of some of these books exist in 25 languages
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