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.

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.

'An urbane study of the celebrated historian.' Antonia Fraser,

Daily Mail

'Strikes a perfect balance between the Jekyll Rowse and the Hyde Rowse.' Bevis Hillier,

Spectator

'Excellent.' Katherine Duncan-Jones,

TLS