Contents: Preface 1. A Life of Alfred Marshall: Introduction and Overview 2. Family and Ancestry 3. Childhood and School 1842–1861 4. Undergraduate Student at St John’s, Cambridge, 1861–1865 5. In Search of a Vocation 1865–1872: Postgraduate Years as a Young Fellow at John’s Cambridge 6. The Economic Apprenticeship (1867–1875) and After 7. An Observing and Studious Traveller: Europe, Britain and the United States (1868–1884) 8. The Husband (1877–1924) in an Unusual Partnership 9. Initial Academic Experience: Cambridge, Bristol and Oxford 10. The Professor at Cambridge (1885–1908) 11. Giving Advice to Governments: (1886–1908) 12. The Long Haul of the Principles: 1881–1922 13. A Principled Controversialist and Strident Advocate 14. A Feminist Manqué 15. The Creator of a New Tripos 16. A Tendential Socialist . . . or Neo-Liberal? The Politics of Alfred Marshall 17. A Sage in Retirement 18. The Friend 19. Some Final Volumes 20. The Last Years and Legacy 21. A Man for all Seasons–and None: the Enigma of Marshall’s Character Index
The late Peter Groenewegen, formerly Professor of Economics and Director, Centre for the Study of the History of Economic Thought, University of Sydney, Australia
’Groenewegen's magnificent biography of Alfred Marshall provides a
veritable mountain of detailed evidence on the development and
contributions of a remarkable and complex human being during his
long life. Groenewegen has left no stone unturned that might
conceal the remotest detail of Marshall's background and like. The
book will unquestionably be the standard source for any future
scholars of the economist whose Principles of Economics dominated
the teaching of pricer theory from its first publication in 1890
until well into the 19th century.’
*Bolletino del CIRT*
’Groenewegen's exhaustive, judicious and scholarly account of
Marshall's life and times has been worth the wait. Groenewegen has
produced a biography which demonstrates deep learning
perceptiveness of interpretation and scrupulous bibliographical
accuracy. He has presented a rounded and sensitive picture of the
complex amalgam of traits and behaviours that characterised
Marshall.’
*Mark Donoghue, Review of Political Economy*
’. . . The scale and scope of his research into all aspects of
Marshall's life are truly impressive, and as such his work
constitutes an invaluable contribution to the history of economic
thought and of the development of economics as an academic
discipline. . . an indispensable mine of information on Marshall's
life, career and intellectual and institutional environment.’
*Alon Kadish, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel*
’. . . Groenewegen's prose is gripping yet lucid and analytical.
Without exaggeration it can be stated that any future work on
Marshall has to start from this book.’
*C.J. Talele, Choice Outstanding Academic Book of the Year
1995*
’Scholars will find themselves well rewarded for their time reading
Peter Groenewegen's substantial contribution to scholarship. No
good library can afford to be without this book. It is a wonderful
achievement that has been long awaited.’
*Robert W. Butler, The Historian*
’A scholarly and comprehensive study of Marshall's life and work,
particularly interesting on his early background.’
*John K. Whitaker, University of Virginia, US*
’Given his worldwide reputation and immense influence on 20th
century economics, the absence of a scholarly biography of Alfred
Marshall is shocking. Now, at last, Peter Groenewegen has filled
this yawning gap, and his book is a major event for economists,
intellectual historians and students of the social sciences.
Groenewegen's research, extending over many years, has been
exhaustive; his contribution to our knowledge of the man and his
works is immense; his analysis of Marshall's writings is
comprehensive; and throughout his judgement is balanced and
insightful. This is truly a landmark achievement.’
*A.W. Coats, Duke University, North Carolina, US and University of
Nottingham, UK*
’Many have thought that Keynes's Memoir made unnecessary the
writing of a biography of Alfred Marshall. How wrong they were.
Professor Groenewegen's meticulous research has given us a very
different (and more accurate) picture of Alfred Marshall's life.
Everyone interested in the development of modern economics will
gain immensely from reading this biography.’
*Ronald Coase, Nobel Laureate in Economics 1991*
’. . . this is no dry-as-dust book for the serious academic alone,
for it provides also a fascinating insight into Alfred Marshall the
man and his personal life.’
*Cambridge Weekly News*
’. . . Professor Peter Groenewegen's A Soaring Eagle: Alfred
Marshall, 1842-1924 is not just a masterpiece of the history of
economic thought, but probably the only book by an Australian
economist which will still be consulted in a century's time.’
*David Clark, Australian Financial Review*
’. . . it is most welcome for a host of reasons; foremost it is a
fascinating and absorbing read. . . It will be a work of great
usefulness to those researching and teaching in the history of
economic ideas but also, I would surmise, for social historians of
the Victorian and Edwardian eras.’
*Bernard Corry, History of Economic Thought*
’. . . a major scholarly achievement . . . this first book-length
life will be essential reading for all those interested in the
development of economics as an academic discipline.’
*John Smithin, Eastern Economic Journal*
’The task that Professor Groenewegen undertook was enormous. The
magnitude of that task is reflected in the fact that, although
Marshall's importance has been acknowledged by all economists, and
that he died over 70 years ago, this is the first biography. The
size of the job has been immense, in no small part, due to Marshall
himself covering many of the tracks, by giving deliberately false
leads. That this monumental endeavour has been achieved in such a
palatable manner is a credit to Peter. His painstaking labours in
pursuing archives, interviewing people, tracing down clues and then
putting it all together is rewarded by the manuscript which will
stand the test of time. It is a work chiselled in stone, which will
throw light for a long time to come.’
*Peter Kriesler, History of Economics Review*
’Groenewegen is one of the few people in our universities who has
sufficient breadth of knowledge and depth of training to have
undertaken such a work, and he has produced a volume which not only
tells us everything that can reasonably be known about Marshall's
personal and professional life, but he has set it in a context of
understanding of Marshall's intellectual concerns which few could
match anywhere.’
*Padraic McGuiness, History of Economics Review*
’It is a book that is rich in understanding the man as well as
illuminating what he wrote and as a psychologist I can safely give
testimony to the fact that the book gives a thoroughly
idiosyncratic view of Marshall's living (not just life) and his
work.’
*Peter Sheehan, History of Economics Review*
’. . . Marshall remains a great sage and economist. Groenewegen
enables us to catch glimpses of this greatness through an often
impenetrable thicket.’
*Lord Robert Skidelsky, The Times Literary Supplement*
’It is not only a much needed work but one of impressive
scholarship and good judgment. If there ever was an eminent
Victorian, Marshall was representative of its ideal type.
Groenewegen explains all this, and much more, in great detail and I
enjoyed every page of this impressive book. Scholars will find this
study of Marshall authoritative, thorough, original, fascinating,
and the standard work on Marshall.’
*Gerard M. Koot, Albion*
’Peter Groenewegen's magnificent biography of Alfred Marshall
provides a veritable mountain of detailed evidence on the
development and contributions of a remarkable and complex human
being during his long life. Groenewegen has left no stone unturned
that might conceal the remotest detail of Marshall's background and
life. Truly a labor of love, no effort has been spared to assure
that it is complete and balanced. The book will unquestionably be
the standard source for any future scholars of the economist whose
Principles of Economics dominated the teaching of price theory from
its first publication in 1890 until well into the twentieth
century.’
*M. Friedman, Journal of Economic Literature*
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