Eminent Marxist historian Hobsbawm dies aged 95

Mon, Oct 1 2012

LONDON (Reuters) - Renowned British left-wing historian Eric Hobsbawm, whose writing influenced students and politicians across Europe, died in a London hospital on Monday aged 95, the BBC reported.

He died in the early hours of the morning in London's Royal Free Hospital, where he was being treated for pneumonia.

"He will be greatly missed, not only by his wife of 50 years, Marlene, and his three children, seven grandchildren and great grandchild, but also by his many thousands of readers and students around the world," a family statement said.

Hobsbawm won critical acclaim with a four-volume history of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, which was translated into 40 languages. His bestselling memoirs charted the pivotal moments in modern European history through which he lived.

Hobsbawm was born into a Jewish family at Alexandria, Egypt in the year of the Russian Revolution, 1917, and grew up in Vienna and Berlin before moving to London as a teenager in 1933 as Adolf Hitler was rising to power in Germany.

He joined the Communist party aged 14, and went on to be closely associated with Britain's left-wing Labour party, over which he was seen to have a strong influence in the 1980s and 1990s. He was once described by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock as "my favourite Marxist".

Hobsbawm maintained his commitment to Marxism even after the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956.

Years later he said he had "never tried to diminish the appalling things that happened in Russia", but had believed in the early days of the communist project that a new world was being born.

(Reporting By Isla Binnie)

		Havana, Tuesday October 2, 2012. Year 16 / No. 272 Eminent Marxist historian Hobsbawm dies aged 95 Mon, Oct 1 2012 LONDON (Reuters) - Renowned British left-wing historian Eric Hobsbawm, whose writing influenced students and politicians across Europe, died in a London hospital on Monday aged 95, the BBC reported. He died in the early hours of the morning in London's Royal Free Hospital, where he was being treated for pneumonia. "He will be greatly missed, not only by his wife of 50 years, Marlene, and his three children, seven grandchildren and great grandchild, but also by his many thousands of readers and students around the world," a family statement said. Hobsbawm won critical acclaim with a four-volume history of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, which was translated into 40 languages. His bestselling memoirs charted the pivotal moments in modern European history through which he lived. Hobsbawm was born into a Jewish family at Alexandria, Egypt in the year of the Russian Revolution, 1917, and grew up in Vienna and Berlin before moving to London as a teenager in 1933 as Adolf Hitler was rising to power in Germany. He joined the Communist party aged 14, and went on to be closely associated with Britain's left-wing Labour party, over which he was seen to have a strong influence in the 1980s and 1990s. He was once described by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock as "my favourite Marxist". Hobsbawm maintained his commitment to Marxism even after the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956. Years later he said he had "never tried to diminish the appalling things that happened in Russia", but had believed in the early days of the communist project that a new world was being born. (Reporting By Isla Binnie) http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/01/us-britain-hobsbawm-idUSBRE8900ID20121001
		La Habana, martes 2 de octubre de 2012. Año 16 / Número 272 La historia contemporánea pierde a uno de sus grandes relatores El renombrado historiador británico de izquierda Eric Hobsbawm, cuyas obras influyeron a estudiantes y políticos de toda Europa, murió el lunes en un hospital londinense a los 95 años, informó la BBC. La muerte se produjo de madrugada en el Royal Free Hospital, donde estaba siendo atendido de una neumonía. "Será muy echado de menos, no solo por su mujer, Marlene, de 50 años, y sus tres hijos, siete nietos y un bisnieto, sino también por sus muchos miles de lectores y estudiantes en todo el mundo", dijo un comunicado de la familia. Hobsbawm fue ensalzado por la crítica por su historia de Europa durante los siglos XIX y XX en cuatro volúmenes, que fue traducida a 40 idiomas. Sus memorias, que se convirtieron en un éxito de ventas, reflejaron los momentos decisivos de la historia moderna europea que vivió. Nacido en una familia judía de Alejandría, en Egipto, en 1917 - año de la Revolución Rusa -, creció en Viena y Berlín y se trasladó a Londres en 1933, cuando era un adolescente, ante la llegada de Adolf Hitler al poder en Alemania. Con 14 años se unió al Partido Comunista, y con el paso de los años fue muy asociado con el partido Laborista británico, sobre el cual se dijo que tuvo una gran influencia en los años 80 y 90. El ex líder laborista Neil Kinnock lo calificó de "mi marxista favorito". Hobsbawm mantuvo su compromiso con el marxismo incluso tras la invasión soviética de Hungría en 1956. Años después dijo que "nunca intenté quitar importancia a las cosas espantosas que pasaron en Rusia", pero que en los primeros días del proyecto comunista creyó que estaba naciendo un nuevo mundo. (Reuters) http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2012/10/02/interna/artic11.html